LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Additional Costs Allowance

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House how many and what percentage of hon. Members used the additional costs allowance to pay for  (a) rent and  (b) interest on a mortgage in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The information is not available in the form requested and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	A sample check in 2006 by the Department of Finance and Administration suggested that 20 per cent. of Members use the ACA to rent a property and 75 per cent. to meet mortgage interest costs.

Additional Costs Allowance

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House under what circumstances hon. Members may claim simultaneously the London supplement and the additional costs allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: It has not been possible to claim the ACA and London supplement simultaneously since April 2005. Before April 2005, only Ministers and office holders could claim ACA and London supplement simultaneously.

Additional Costs Allowance

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of hon. Members have claimed  (a) the maximum amount of additional costs allowance available and  (b) money from both the London supplement and the additional costs allowance in each year since 2001.

Jack Straw: The percentage of hon. Members who have claimed the maximum amount of additional costs allowance in each year since 2001 is shown in the following table. The figures for 2005-06 are currently being compiled and will be published later this month.
	
		
			  MPs claiming maximum ACA 
			   Percentage 
			 2001-02 8.6 
			 2002-03 35.5 
			 2003-04 23.2 
			 2004-05 28.5 
		
	
	The percentage of hon. Members who have claimed both the London supplement (LS) and the additional costs allowance (ACA) in each year since 2001, until the ability to claim both allowances was withdrawn in 2005-06, is as follows:
	
		
			  MPs claiming maximum LS and ACA 
			   Percentage 
			 2001-02 16.2 
			 2002-03 13.8 
			 2003-04 13.8 
			 2004-05 12.3

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office has spent on taxis in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: The Leader of the House of Commons' Office has spent £4,084.60 on taxis in the last 12 months.

Foreign Language Lessons

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House how many hon. Members received free foreign language lessons funded by the House in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by language learned.

Jack Straw: In 2005-06, 12 Members received foreign language lessons funded by the House. The number of Members who received lessons in each language is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Italian 4 
			 Portuguese 1 
			 French 4 
			 Spanish 2 
			 Polish 1

Party Political Spending

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Leader of the House what plans there are to limit party political spending in individual constituencies outside the 12-month period immediately prior to a general election.

Jack Straw: Sir Hayden Phillips is currently undertaking an independent review of the funding of political parties. He has been asked to aim to produce recommendations that are as much as possible agreed between the political parties with a view to legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	Sir Hayden Phillips will be publishing an interim assessment later this week. He has been asked to report to the Prime Minister before the end of December 2006. The Government will carefully consider his final conclusions, including any proposals to limit party political spending in individual constituencies outside the 12-month period immediately prior to a general election.

Party Political Spending

Jo Swinson: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to limit the money that can be spent in election campaigns.

Jack Straw: Sir Hayden Phillips is currently undertaking an independent review of the funding of political parties. He has been asked to aim to produce recommendations that are as much as possible agreed between the political parties with a view to legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	Sir Hayden Phillips will be publishing an interim assessment later this week. He has been asked to report to the Prime Minister before the end of December 2006. The Government will carefully consider his final conclusions, including any proposals to limit the money that can be spent in election campaigns.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local Government Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the implications are for local authorities of replacing capital grants with the power of prudential borrowing, which authorities have contacted her on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Since the prudential borrowing system began on 1 April 2004, local authorities have been free to borrow for capital projects without Government consent, provided that they can afford the loan charges without extra Government grant. However, the Government have continued to support the major part of authorities' capital programmes, by a mixture of revenue grants for loan charges plus capital grants. Future levels of capital support and the mechanisms for delivering it are being considered in the Government's current spending review.

Local Government Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made with the reform of local government finance.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friends the Chancellor and the Deputy Prime Minister appointed Sir Michael Lyons to undertake an independent inquiry into local government finance, later extended to cover the future strategic role and function of local government. To date, Sir Michael has published two documents—a consultation paper and interim report in December 2005 and a discussion paper in May 2006, "National prosperity, local choice and civic engagement". These are available on the Lyons Inquiry website (www.lyonsinquiry.org). Sir Michael is due to submit his final report to the Chancellor and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in December 2006.
	The Government will not take any decisions on local government finance until it has had the chance to consider Sir Michael's report and recommendations fully.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) powers and  (b) duties are of local authorities in relation to enhancing areas of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Most, but not all, areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) are managed by their constituent local authorities. Local authorities have no powers specifically aimed at AONBs. However, they must follow their duty to have regard to the purpose of AONB designation in order to conserve and enhance the natural beauty.
	Further information is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/issues/landscap/pdf/authorityduties-guidancenote.pdf.

Avian Influenza

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which non-poultry rare breeds would be excluded from a cull if an outbreak of avian influenza occurs; and whether all bird species on the Red List will be excluded from such a cull.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 16 October 2006
	In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza, our policy is to stamp out the disease as quickly as possible in accordance with the EU directive for the control of avian influenza (2005/94/EU). Culling of the affected flock and any dangerous contacts, together with stringent controls around the affected premises, is the best way of dealing rapidly with an outbreak.
	However, for certain birds, subject to a veterinary risk assessment, the directive provides for a derogation from the requirement to cull.
	This derogation extends to officially recognised rare breeds of poultry and other captive birds. Following discussions with the relevant societies for captive birds, the crested canary has been officially recognised for this purpose. It can also be applied to premises such as non-commercial premises, wildlife parks and zoos.
	Conservation of endangered species is covered separately under the derogation. Species considered threatened under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of threatened species could benefit.

Badgers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what evidential basis the randomised badger culling trials were stopped; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: When the randomised badger culling trial (RBCT) was designed, statistical power calculations were performed which indicated that, to be sufficiently precise to detect a 20 per cent. reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence associated with either culling treatment, 50 "triplet years" worth of data would have to be collected.
	In 2003, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) detected a statistically significant result for the reactive element of the RBCT that indicated an increase in confirmed TB incidence in cattle in reactive areas compared to survey-only areas. Under agreed operating procedures the ISG was obliged to bring this to the attention of Ministers, who concluded that the reactive culling operations should be discontinued. Reactive culling was suspended in November 2003.
	By the end of the 2005 planned proactive culling operations, the target of 50 triplet year's of data collection had been achieved, and proactive culling therefore ceased. Surveying work continued into March 2006, by which time data for 51.6 triplet years had been collected.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been raised  (a) in total and  (b) on average from selling the carcases of tuberculosis test failure cattle in each year between 2000 and 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table provides (i) the number of cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis control measures in Great Britain and (ii) the amount received in salvage payments (after cost deductions for haulage, meat inspection etcetera) between 2000 and 2006. It is not possible to provide an average cost per carcase because not all cattle are slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses for potential human consumption. Therefore, an average cannot be derived simply by dividing the total salvage payment by number of cattle slaughtered. It is not possible to extract the information required to calculate a meaningful average from the State Veterinary Service database.
	
		
			   (i) Total number of cattle slaughtered under TB control measures( 1)  (ii) Total salvage payment from sale of carcases in £ million 
			 2006(2) 13,917 1.8 
			 2005 30,063 4.4 
			 2004 23,064 2.7 
			 2003 23,821 3.6 
			 2002 (3)23,744 3.0 
			 2001 (3)6,549 0.7 
			 2000 8,682 1.2 
			 (1) Reactors, inconclusive reactors and direct contacts. (2) 2006 figures cover the period January to August only. Provisional data, subject to change as (i) further test data and (ii) further salvage receipts become available. (3) In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also, the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of cattle slaughtered in 2001 and 2002 is not comparable with other years.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle showed lesions after slaughter in each year between 2000 and 2006.

Ben Bradshaw: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle is confirmed by identification of visible lesions at post-mortem inspection and/or by laboratory testing of samples taken from carcases. The number of animals in which bTB was confirmed annually in Great Britain, between 2000 and 2006, is given in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of confirmed TB reactors in GB 
			 2006(1) 4,663 
			 2005 8,657 
			 2004 6,422 
			 2003 6,308 
			 2002(2) 6,993 
			 2001(2) 2,342 
			 2000 3,644 
			 (1) Provisional statistics for 1 January to 31 August 2006 only. (2) In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. When testing resumed in 2002, resources were concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests which would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also, the proportion of high risk herds tested immediately after the FMD outbreak was greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, data for 2001 and 2002 are not directly comparable with other years. 
		
	
	It is important to bear in mind that failure to confirm the disease at post-mortem examination or by laboratory culture does not mean that the disease was not present in the animal, or that the animal had not been in contact with bTB. In the early stages of the disease, it is not always possible to see lesions with the naked eye and, due to the fastidious nature of the organism, it is not possible to culture from samples in every case.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of a pre-movement tuberculosis test was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: A pre-movement tuberculosis test is a private transaction between an individual farmer and his or her local veterinary inspector. However, the Government are continuing to fund the provision of tuberculin and all routine tuberculosis surveillance tests and this is estimated to cost about £40 million a year. Where animals are moved within 60 days of a routine test being conducted, there is no need for a further pre-movement test.

Departmental Expenditure

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02.

Barry Gardiner: The Department does not maintain a separate record of expenditure on food and alcohol for its staff. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in "Government Accounting".

Departmental Staff

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of  (a) staff and  (b) new staff employed since April 2005 in (i) his Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which he has responsibility is recorded as disabled.

Barry Gardiner: Information on the disability status of staff is available via the Cabinet Office website at
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/publications/xls/report_2005/table_p.xls
	Disability is self-declared and voluntary.
	Since April 2005 approximately 4 per cent. of all new entrants to the Core Department and the Agencies covered by the Department's personnel database have declared a disability. The proportions for the core Department and individual Agencies are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Department/Agency  New entrants with a declared a disability (percentage) 
			 Core Defra 4 
			 State Veterinary Service 5 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate(1) 0 
			 Government Decontamination Service(1) 6 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate(1) 0 
			 Marine Fisheries Agency(1) 6 
			 Rural Development Service 5 
			 (1) These Agencies recruited fewer than 20 staff in this period. 
		
	
	Data for the remaining Agencies i.e. the Central Science Laboratory, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the Rural Payments Agency, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences is held by the Agencies. It has not been provided due to the disproportionate cost involved in collating the information.

Gangmasters

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many gangmasters are licensed in Lancashire to provide employees for supermarkets.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 6 October 2006
	The gangmasters licensing scheme applies to labour providers who supply workers to work in agriculture, horticulture and the food processing and packaging sectors. It also applies to the supply and use of workers to gather shellfish. The scheme does not apply to the supply of labour to work in retail establishments, such as supermarkets.
	It has been an offence to act as a gangmaster without a licence in agriculture, horticulture and the food processing and packaging sectors since 1 October 2006. From the same date the Gangmasters Licensing Authority started accepting licence applications from gangmasters operating in the shellfish gathering sector. The introduction of licensing has been phased in this way as more time was needed to finalise the detailed licensing arrangements to apply to shellfish gathering.
	As at 11 October 2006, 37 licence holders or applicants were recorded by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority with headquarters located in Lancashire.

Heath Plants

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  in how many sites of special scientific interest in  (a) Shropshire and  (b) England the Heath Cudweed plant, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, is to be found;
	(2)  in what sites of special scientific interest in Shropshire the Heath Cudweed plant, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, grows.

Barry Gardiner: In Shropshire, records show that Heath Cudweed, Gnaphalium sylvaticum, has been found in, or closely adjacent to, one site of special scientific interest (SSSI)—Wyre Forest.
	In England as a whole, records suggest that it may be found within, or closely adjacent to, 49 SSSIs.

London (Waste)

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of London's waste that is transported to other regions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made in London to meet its 2010 Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme targets; which elements of the package of measures for waste management set out in the Government's proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and the Assembly address such progress to such targets; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The package of measures set out by the Government provides the Mayor with increased powers and responsibility to deliver his municipal waste management strategy and spatial development strategy for London. The enhancement of his powers to require waste authorities to deliver services in general conformity with his strategy, along with his existing power of direction, will help ensure the strategic vision the Mayor sets out for London is delivered on the ground.
	The Waste and Recycling Forum, announced as part of the package, will be led by the Mayor to co-ordinate activity across different sectors and address the key strategic issues facing London. The Waste and Recycling Fund is associated with this and will help the Mayor to address these key strategic issues.
	In addition, there will be a dedicated London element to the Waste Infrastructure Development Programme (WIDP), which was announced in May 2006, providing a strong role for the Mayor in working with local authorities and the regions to accelerate the building of new waste diversion infrastructure, allowing London to manage more of its waste within London.
	The Mayor already has a leading role in planning for London's waste treatment needs through the London Plan, where he has set a target for London to be 85 per cent. self sufficient for waste management by 2020.
	This will significantly reduce the pressure on surrounding regions. The Mayor will also have increased powers related to planning and will now have the power to take over and decide on planning applications that are strategically important to London.
	London authorities are making good progress towards meeting their 2010 Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) obligations. I announced on 12 October that—subject to final confirmation by the Environment Agency—all England's waste authorities were within their allocation of landfill allowances for the first scheme year of LATS (2005-06).
	Information about the performance of all waste disposal authorities in England with respect to allocated allowances is available on the LATS public register at: http://lats.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu =register&Module=publicRegister/registerMain

London (Waste)

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the package of measures for waste management set out in the Government's proposals for additional powers and responsibilities for the Mayor and the Assembly encourage London waste authorities to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government believe that all sectors have an important role to play in achieving the significant challenge of meeting climate change objectives and landfill diversion targets. The London-wide Waste and Recycling Forum, announced in 'The Government's Final Proposals for Additional Powers and Responsibilities for the Mayor and Assembly', will bring together key interested parties, including London waste authorities, to improve waste minimisation and recycling, promote collaborative action and link waste with other London priorities around climate change, transport and employment.
	In addition, the Greater London Authority will be subject to a specific duty to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapt to its unavoidable impacts.
	Further information is available on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1500896.

Ragwort

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions have taken place under the Ragwort Control Act 2003; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that Act; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The Weeds Act 1959 enables the Secretary of State to serve an enforcement notice on an occupier of land on which injurious weeds are growing, requiring them to take action to prevent the spread of weeds. It is an offence to fail unreasonably to comply with an enforcement notice served under the Act. The Act also enables the Secretary of State to take default action to clear weeds, where control action has not been taken following the issue of an enforcement notice.
	Defra takes action under the Weeds Act where there is a risk to the welfare of horses and other livestock. Under revised procedures for investigating complaints about injurious weeds, introduced in 2003, Defra has made far greater use of the statutory powers available under the Weeds Act. To date we have issued 134 enforcement notices and taken clearance action in three cases. There have been no prosecutions under the Act.
	The Ragwort Control Act 2003 amended the Weeds Act 1959 and provided for the preparation of a Code of Practice on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. The Code was published in July 2004 and provides comprehensive advice on the control of ragwort. It is available from Defra Publications (telephone: 08459 55 6000) and is on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/horses/topics/ragwort.htm.
	The Code and revised enforcement procedures have increased public awareness of the dangers to horses and other livestock from ragwort, and are proving effective in preventing the spread of ragwort where there is a threat to animal welfare. This is illustrated by the fact that, in the vast majority of cases, where Defra has served an enforcement notice, land managers have acted promptly to take action to clear weeds.

Ragwort

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with whom he has consulted on the Code of Practice under the Ragwort Control Act 2003.

Barry Gardiner: The Code of Practice was published in July 2004. Defra worked with The British Horse Society, English Nature, Wildlife and Countryside Link, ADAS, the British Beekeepers Association, Network Rail and representatives of Local Government to draw up the Code. There was also a formal public consultation on the Code as required by the provisions of the Ragwort Control Act 2003. Further details are available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/ragwort/index.htm.

Rainforests (Soya Production)

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken by his Department to prevent the sale of meat from animals which have been fed soya grown in former rainforest areas.

Barry Gardiner: We do not restrict meat imports based on the source of the soya fed to the animals. However, the UK, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund, is supporting the Amazon Deforestation Soya Certification Project. This is aimed at helping to combat deforestation by developing an independent certification scheme for "forest-friendly" soya.

Sheep Dip

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Medical and Scientific Review Panel on the ongoing investigation into the neuropsychological sequelae of organophosphate poisoning caused by sheep dip.

Ben Bradshaw: The research project into the neuropsychological sequelae of organophosphate poisoning allegedly caused by sheep dipping is part of the Government's £1.5 million programme looking at the hypothesis that the use of organophosphate sheep dips is the cause of ill health reported by some farmers and others. The contractors from University College, London met with the Veterinary Products Committee's Medical and Scientific Panel and Defra officials on 15 September to discuss concerns about the scientific viability of the project and, in particular, the difficulties experienced by the contractor in identifying individuals to act as a reference group with whom to compare the health of sheep dippers.
	At the meeting the Medical and Scientific Panel agreed to provide a written appraisal of the approach proposed by the contractors. However, their written appraisal has not yet been received.

Single Farm Payments

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what percentage of claimants in  (a) England,  (b) the South West and  (c) Torridge and West Devon are waiting to receive their single farm payment in full; what the total value of payments which remain to be paid is in (i) England, (ii) the South West and (iii) Torridge and West Devon; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: As of the 11 October 2006 of the 116,474 English SPS 2005 claimants 113,461 have received either a partial or full payment which leaves approximately 3,013 that are still to receive a payment. This is 2.6 per cent. of the total number of 2005 Single Farm Payment Scheme claimants and equates to £11 million yet to be paid.
	Analysis of the above by region is not available.

Single Farm Payments

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in  (a) North Dorset and  (b) England are yet to receive a full balance of their 2005 single payment scheme payment from the Rural Payments Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: As of the 11 October 2006 of the 116,474 English SPS 2005 claimants 113,461 have received either a partial or full payment which leaves 3,013 that are still to receive a payment.
	Analysis of the above by region is not available.

Veterinary Bill

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the proposed Veterinary Bill will be introduced; and whether it will propose changes in the self-regulation of vets.

Ben Bradshaw: While there are some strong arguments for modernising the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, there is currently no set timetable to produce a draft Bill.
	We are considering proposals submitted by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to modernise the current arrangements for self regulation. These place greater emphasis on ensuring that veterinary surgeons maintain appropriate levels of competence. They also include improved arrangements for the management of complaints against vets.
	We will work closely with the RCVS and other stakeholders to consider if their proposals provide an appropriate and proportionate framework for the future.

Waste Management/Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of waste oil is captured for reuse.

Ben Bradshaw: Approximately 350,000 to 400,000 tonnes of waste oil are collected in the UK annually. This represents about 80 per cent. of collectable oil and is one of the highest collection rates in Europe. All collected oil is recovered as a replacement fuel or is used as a reducing agent in the manufacture of steel.
	The reuse of waste oil requires it to be regenerated into base lube oil in a re-refinery. This remains a possibility in the UK while oil prices remain high and operators are looking to establish re-refining plants here.

Waste Management/Recycling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tonnage of waste packaging was sent to landfill sites in each of the last 20 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Exact figures for the amount of packaging waste sent to landfill sites in the UK are not available. However, if one assumes that all packaging waste that is not recovered (either through recycling or Energy from Waste) goes to landfill, then the proportion of packaging waste that has been sent to landfill is provided in the table.
	
		
			Estimated amount of packaging waste sent to landfill in the UK 
			   Packaging waste recovered (%)  (%)  Tonnage (mT) 
			 1998 32.6 67.4 6.9 
			 1999 38.2 61.8 5.7 
			 2000 42.0 58.0 5.3 
			 2001 47.9 52.1 4.9 
			 2002 50.5 49.5 4.9 
			 2003 52.7 47.3 4.8 
			 2004 55.6 44.4 4.5 
			 2005 59.9 40.1 4.1 
		
	
	Please note that although the percentage of packaging waste recovered has increased year on year, the amount of packaging waste entering the waste stream has also increased, which is why the estimated tonnage of packaging waste going to landfill has not decreased in line with increases in recovery.
	Data on the amount of packaging waste recovered and recycled had to be collected only after the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations came into force in 1997. Therefore, figures for the years preceding 1998 are unavailable.

Waste Management/Recycling

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of  (a) household waste and  (b) all waste was recycled in each local authority area in South West England in each year between 1996-97 and 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Results for all local authorities in South West England, for years for which data are available, are listed in the following table.
	
		
			  Proportion of household waste recycled and composted per year 
			  Percentage 
			  Local authority in South West England  2004-05( 1)  2003-04  2002-03  2001-02  2000-01  1999-2000  1998-99 
			 Isles of Scilly n/a 19 20 21 17 8 10 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 32 29 26 25 24 21 17 
			 Bristol City 12 12 14 11 11 10 9 
			 Restormel 20 13 11 11 9 8 8 
			 Penwith 20 16 7 3 3 3 3 
			 North Cornwall 27 21 9 2 1 2 7 
			 Kerrier 23 20 16 13 7 7 6 
			 Carrick 30 n/a 13 12 11 7 7 
			 Caradon 23 21 15 11 4 2 2 
			 Cornwall County 26 21 16 11 9 7 6 
			 West Devon 29 22 21 20 15 16 15 
			 Torridge 24 22 17 13 12 10 11 
			 Torbay 22 21 20 18 17 17 10 
			 Teignbridge 27 15 12 11 10 12 12 
			 South Hams 26 17 22 16 18 17 14 
			 Plymouth City 16 16 15 16 14 10 8 
			 North Devon 22 18 15 12 9 10 10 
			 Mid Devon 18 16 15 14 11 6 11 
			 Exeter City 22 17 14 12 11 10 10 
			 East Devon 16 15 15 13 14 11 9 
			 Devon County 33 26 22 20 19 18 17 
			 Poole 23 19 18 15 17 20 22 
			 Bournemouth 22 25 23 24 20 19 24 
			 Weymouth and Portland 20 15 12 12 12 12 15 
			 West Dorset 21 14 13 12 10 9 9 
			 Purbeck 16 13 13 10 12 13 16 
			 North Dorset 20 18 16 16 16 15 18 
			 East Dorset 26 19 17 16 16 16 19 
			 Christchurch 21 19 13 12 12 11 11 
			 Dorset County 34 29 27 27 27 27 31 
			 Tewkesbury 15 14 8 8 7 7 7 
			 Stroud 21 22 20 16 17 15 13 
			 Gloucester City 11 12 12 7 7 6 6 
			 Forest of Dean 33 27 12 9 9 11 11 
			 Cotswold 19 18 16 17 17 19 19 
			 Cheltenham 18 n/a 12 9 n/a 7 8 
			 Gloucestershire County 24 21 17 14 13 11 12 
			 North Somerset 20 15 13 13 11 10 7 
			 West Somerset 16 15 12 10 10 9 8 
			 Taunton Deane 21 18 13 10 12 10 12 
			 South Somerset 17 15 11 10 10 10 11 
			 Sedgemoor 15 11 9 6 7 6 6 
			 Mendip 16 14 14 6 7 7 8 
			 Somerset County 32 27 21 15 15 13 14 
			 South Gloucestershire 32 16 13 9 8 7 7 
			 Swindon 19 16 14 10 13 15 15 
			 West Wiltshire 17 8 5 9 8 7 7 
			 Salisbury 19 15 15 14 16 17 16 
			 North Wiltshire 16 n/a 7 n/a n/a n/a 5 
			 Kennet 16 9 9 12 12 10 13 
			 Wiltshire County 27 19 17 18 10 11 10 
			 (1) Results for 2004-05 are the current best value performance indicator percentages, BV 82a+b recycling and composting rate.  Notes: 1. Fully audited data on local authority household recycling and composting performance for 2005-6 should be available later this year. Data for 1996-97 and 1997-8 are unavailable. 2. Household waste currently constitutes approximately 86 per cent of waste collected by local authorities. There are no comparable results available for all waste recycled at local authority level.  Source: Defra Municipal Waste Management Statistics.

Waste Management/Recycling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much household waste was recycled in each of the last 20 years.

Ben Bradshaw: The percentage of household waste that was recycled and composted by English local authorities for each year for which figures are available are listed as follows:
	
		
			   Household waste that was recycled and composted by English local authorities 
			   Percentage 
			 1996-97 7.5 
			 1997-98 8.2 
			 1998-99 9.0 
			 1999-90 10.0 
			 2000-01 11.2 
			 2001-02 12.5 
			 2002-03 14.5 
			 2003-04 17.8 
			 2004-05 22.5 
			  Source:  DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Statistics 
		
	
	In addition, a provisional estimate has recently been made based on unaudited Best Value Performance Indicators, BV82a+b, that the recycling and composting rate for 2005-06 was around 27 per cent.

Woodland

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what acreage of new woodland has been established in each of the last 20 years.

Barry Gardiner: The area of new woodland created comes principally from the area of Forestry Commission grant aided planting as well as planting by the Commission on the public forest estate. In addition a small area is planted each year without grant aid. The following table gives the total area created each year.
	
		
			  New Woodland Creation 
			  Thousand of hectares 
			   England  Wales  Scotland  Great Britain 
			 1985-86 1.4 0.8 21.6 23.7 
			 1986-87 1.5 0.9 22.3 24.7 
			 1987-88 1.9 1.1 25.8 28.9 
			 1988-89 2.0 1.0 26.4 29.4 
			 1989-90 3.7 0.7 15.3 19.7 
			 1990-91 4.5 0.5 14.0 19.1 
			 1991-92 4.2 0.4 12.7 17.3 
			 1992-93 5.3 0.4 12.1 17.9 
			 1993-94 6.4 0.6 10.5 17.5 
			 1994-95 5.4 0.6 13.4 19.4 
			 1995-96 4.7 0.4 10.6 15.7 
			 1996-97 4.7 0.4 11.8 16.8 
			 1997-98 4.4 0.5 11.4 16.3 
			 1998-99 5.1 0.6 10.5 16.3 
			 1999-2000 5.9 0.7 10.4 17.1 
			 2000-01 5.9 0.4 11.7 18.1 
			 2001-02 5.4 0.3 8.0 13.7 
			 2002-03 5.9 0.3 6.7 13.0 
			 2003-04 4.6 0.5 6.8 11.9 
			 2004-05 5.3 0.5 5.7 11.5 
			 2005-06 3.7 0.5 4.0 8.1

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Banking (Penalty Charges)

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to limit the level of penalty charges imposed by banks and credit card companies.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to his question answered on 10 October 2006,  Official Report, column 711W.

Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcy restrictions orders (BROs) have been made under the personal insolvency provisions introduced by the Enterprise Act in April 2004; and what proportion of total bankruptcy cases BROs represented in the same period.

Jim Fitzpatrick: From 1 April 2004 to 30 September 2006, a total of 1,609 bankruptcy restrictions orders (or undertakings) have been made. This represents 1.3 per cent. of all bankruptcy orders made over the same period (the total number of bankruptcy orders made in this period is 121,648).

Data Standards

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the purpose is of data standards  (a) BS7666 and  (b) BS8766.

Malcolm Wicks: BS7666 is a set of standards on "Spatial datasets for geographical referencing". It provides a method of identifying places. BS8766 "Names and identifiers of individuals and groups" provides a method of recording names and identifiers of individuals and groups. They provide for compatibility of information between different producers and users of information based on the standards.
	Further information can be obtained from the British Standards Institute (David Cowers—020 8996 7419), and for BS7666, the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) at www.agi.org.uk.

European Landscape Convention

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department considers the European Landscape Convention when considering applications for consent to the development of  (a) onshore and  (b) offshore wind farms.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government do embrace the principles of the European Landscape Convention through the work of their advisors on landscape and seascape matters. Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales are responsible for advising on both onshore and offshore wind farm consent applications.

Gas Supply

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many households in each constituency in Wales are not connected to the gas network;
	(2)  what percentage of households in Wales is without mains gas;
	(3)  what percentage of households in England is without mains gas.

Malcolm Wicks: The English House Condition Survey 2004 indicates that 13 per cent. of English households are without mains gas. The Welsh House Condition Survey 2004 indicates that 19 per cent. of Welsh households are without mains gas. The Government do not hold information about access to the gas network on a constituency basis, but DTI's regional consumption statistics include information about the number of gas meters relative to the number of households in areas within Wales. The statistics may be accessed at http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file27542.xls.

National Institute for Medical Research

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in appointing a new director for the National Institute for Medical Research; and what process is being followed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 16 October 2006
	This is a matter for the Medical Research Council (MRC). I have asked Professor Blakemore to write to my hon. Friend.

National Institute for Medical Research

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1292W, on the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), if he will make a further statement following the letter from the Director of NIMR to the Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council of 22nd September, which was copied to him;
	(2)  why correspondence from the Office of Science and Innovation in response to the draft business case drawn up by the Medical Research Council (MRC) on the future of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) was not copied to members of the NIMR sitting on the MRC project board; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: These are matters for the Medical Research Council. I have asked Professor Blakemore to write to my hon. Friend.

Redundancies

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many redundancies have been notified to the Government since 1 July 2006, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I regret that I am unable to provide the figures by constituency. The number of notified collective redundancies of 20 or more per establishment since 1 July 2006 is 991 notifications showing a total of 92,189 redundancies.

TV Signal Reception Installers

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many television signal reception installers had signed up to the Registered Digital Installer scheme as at 30 September, broken down by ITV television region.

Margaret Hodge: Since the Registered Digital Installer (RDI) scheme was launched in March 2006, 42 installers have completed their training. These are located largely in the West Midlands and South Wales. The number of aerial installers currently attending training courses is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  ITV region  Number of installers enrolled in training 
			 Border 15 
			 West Country 10 
			 Wales 32 
			 Granada 45 
			 West 2 
			 Grampian 4 
			 Scottish — 
			 Central 62 
			 Yorkshire 59 
			 Anglia — 
			 Meridian 6 
			 London — 
			 Tyne Tees 36 
			 Ulster — 
			 Total 271 
		
	
	At present, 13 further education colleges are providing the NVQ level training that forms a central element of the RDI scheme. We expect the number of RDIs to increase significantly over the coming months as more colleges begin to provide training.

World Trade

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of the latest round of Doha trade talks on  (a) freeing up trade,  (b) improving market access for developing countries,  (c) sustainable development and  (d) poverty reduction.

Ian McCartney: A successful Doha round could deliver real benefits to developed and developing nations through increasing trade, stimulating economic growth and helping to alleviate poverty. The exact gains that developed and developing nations could derive from the Doha round are difficult to calculate, because they depend on a large number of variables. Although the UK has not conducted an independent assessment of the impact of the Doha development agenda, the European Commission has undertaken a full Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the possible economic, development, environmental and social impacts of a DDA agreement. This assessment is available on the internet at http://www.sia-trade.org/FinalPhase FinalReports.shtml.

TREASURY

Arms Export Controls

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2332W, on arms export controls, what the numerical threshold is for widespread abuse used in HM Revenue and Customs assessment of the level of abuse of export controls; how many staff are allocated to the conduct of risk-testing exercises of arms export control; how much was spent on such risk-testing exercises in each of the last five years; and how many such exercises have been carried out since 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs judgment that there is not widespread abuse of export controls is based on their assessment of the export control breaches either detected at the frontier or referred or disclosed to them and their evaluation of the intelligence and other information available to them. HMRC does not have a precisely defined numerical threshold for widespread abuse. They regard as abuse those cases where there is evidence of a deliberate breach involving destinations of concern or particularly sensitive goods.
	HMRC's centrally driven risk testing exercises involve HMRC staff as well as experts from other Departments and the intelligence agencies. There have been 11 such exercises since the first took place in July 2004 although customs managers in ports and airports also carry out their own local exercises that will include elements of risk testing.
	A typical exercise will comprise between six and 10 HMRC staff, who are deployed on a multi-functional and flexible basis. Accurate estimates of staff and other costs are not available.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the recipient is of the planned loans to Burma from the European Investment Bank; what the loans are for; and whether the UK Government are able to block such loans being made.

Edward Balls: No loans to Burma by the European Investment Bank (EIB) have been made.
	The ECOFIN Council is currently discussing the framework for lending by the EIB outside of the European Community (EC) guaranteed by the EC, covering the period 2007-13—the so-called "external lending mandate". No decision has yet been taken on the mandate, including on the procedures for agreeing eligibility of loan recipients in specific countries.

Child Benefit

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for child benefit were made in each year since 2001 in each local authority area.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. However, the number of families in each local authority in England and Wales receiving child benefit from August 2001 to August 2005 are available on the Neighbourhood Statistics section of the National Statistics website.
	http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/datasetList.do?JSAllowed=true&Function=&%24ph=60&CurrentPageId=60&step=1&CurrentTreeIndex=-1&searchString=&datasetFamilyId=215&Next.x= 12&Next.y=l3

Childcare Vouchers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax-free child care vouchers have been given in each year since introduction; and what their total value was.

Dawn Primarolo: Employers and employees are not required to report the value of tax-free employer supported child care provided to employees since the tax and national insurance contributions exemptions were introduced in April 2005. HMRC has commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), an independent social research organisation, to conduct a survey of employers with a view to providing estimates of take-up among employers and their employees.

Children's Tax Credit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the Inland Revenue contacted self-assessment claimants of the children's tax credit to inform them of  (a) the switch to child tax credit in 2003 and  (b) how to apply for it.

Dawn Primarolo: The former Inland Revenue (IR) ran an extensive advertising campaign in the national press, on the radio and online, in addition to a television campaign that ran for three weeks in September 2002. The deadline for submitting a claim to ensure a claimant received a full year's award for 2003-04 was 7 July 2003. This too was publicised widely in advertisements appearing in national and regional newspapers, on television and radio and online throughout June 2003.
	Self-assessment (SA) taxpayers who had the former children's tax credit included in their 2002-03 pay as you earn (PAYE) coding were automatically sent a tax credits claim pack to enable them to claim the new tax credits (NTC), in good time, prior to April 2003. All notices of coding, issued ahead of the new income tax year 2003-04, carried a message and enclosed a letter that explained how IR was changing the way they paid support for children.
	The IR identified potential NIC claimants who did not have employed earnings or did not have children's tax credit in their PAYE coding in 2002-03, but claimed children's tax credit on their 2001-02 SA return by 31 January 2003, by comparing data held on their SA and NTC records. That exercise enabled IR to identify and send claim packs to around 675,000 SA customers, who had not already submitted a claim for NTC to enable them to claim tax credits.

Community Club Development Programme (VAT)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT revenue has been collected on projects funded by the Government's Community Club Development Programme in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available. HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT relating to individual goods and services.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter to the Paymaster General of 18 August 2006 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. and Mrs. Reid.

Dawn Primarolo: I have replied to my right hon. Friend.

Cultural Purposes Exemption (VAT)

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much cultural organisations have received from the cultural purposes exemption on VAT in each year since 1997, broken down by  (a) museums,  (b) galleries,  (c) art exhibitions,  (d) zoos,  (e) theatrical performances,  (f) musical performances,  (g) choreographic performances and  (h) other recipients; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not available. HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT relating to individual goods and services.

Departmental Meetings

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many meetings he has had with Sir Christopher Evans since 1 January 2005;
	(2)  what representations he has received from Sir Christopher Evans to increase public expenditure on stem cell research.

John Healey: holding answers 9 and 12 October 2006
	Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with and receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and representations.

European Investment Bank

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in UK contributions was paid into the European Investment Bank in each of the last five years.

Edward Balls: The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been self-sufficient in the last five years. Therefore, the UK has not paid any contributions to the EIB's capital base in this period.
	In 2004, the UK agreed to make a voluntary contribution of €2 million to the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment Partnership (FEMIP) Trust Fund. The first instalment of €1 million was paid in January 2005 and a second instalment of €1 million was made in March 2006.

Family Incomes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net income of a single earner family on half average earnings with two young children was in real terms in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The table provides the information requested. Estimates of average earnings for each financial year are based on figures from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and HMT assumptions about in-year earnings growth. Net income is defined as earnings, less income tax and national insurance contributions, plus child benefit, family credit or tax credits.
	
		
			  Net income of a single-earner family with two children aged 5-10 on half male mean earnings (2006-07 prices) 
			  £ 
			   Half male mean earnings  Half male median earnings 
			 1997-98 261 248 
			 1998-99 260 247 
			 1999-2000(1) 312 292 
			 2000-01 323 302 
			 2001-02 339 316 
			 2002-03 342 319 
			 2003-04 342 320 
			 2004-05 345 324 
			 2005-06 348 327 
			 2006-07 350 328 
			 (1 )assuming WFTC in place of family credit

Financial Inclusion Taskforce

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the minutes for the Financial Inclusion Taskforce meeting on 11 July have not been made available; and when he expects them to be made available.

Edward Balls: Minutes of the Financial Inclusion Taskforce meeting on 11 July are now available on the Financial Inclusion Taskforce website. They can be accessed at www.financialinclusion-taskforce.org.uk.

Game Birds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to value all land used for commercial game rearing where more than 50 birds are kept; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Valuation officers (VOs) of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are responsible for the valuation of non-domestic property for rating purposes.
	The VOA make assessments of game farms in all cases where it is appropriate to do so, in accordance with current rating legislation, responsibility for which rests with the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Inheritance Tax

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the population paid inheritance tax in each of the last 30 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of estates paying inheritance tax is published on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/1_4_apr06.xls
	UK population estimates are published on the ONS website as follows:
	Years 1976 to 2004: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=9468
	Year 2005: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=601
	The number of taxpaying estates has been less than 0.1 per cent. of the population in each year over the past 30 years.

International Passenger Survey

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the International Passenger Survey cost the Government to run and analyse for each year from 2001.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 October 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how much the International Passenger Survey has cost in each of the years since 2001. (94109)
	The figures shown in the table below are in millions and relate to the financial years across the period in question.
	
		
			  Cost of the International Passenger Survey, 1999 to 2006 
			  Financial year  Cost (£ million) 
			 2000-01 3.4 
			 2001-02 3.6 
			 2002-03 3.6 
			 2003-04 3.7 
			 2004-05 4.1 
			 2005-06 4.4

Iraq

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the debt owed by Iraq in March 2003  (a) overall and  (b) to the United Kingdom has been (i) repaid and (ii) cancelled.

Edward Balls: According to IMF estimates, the overall stock of external debt owed by Iraq at the time of the November 2004 Paris Club debt deal amounted to $119 billion. In November 2004, the Paris Club group of official creditors agreed with Iraq to cancel $31.1 billion (80 per cent.) of their total $38.9 billion claims on Iraq in three stages;
	An immediate cancellation of 30 per cent. of the debt stock as at 1 January 2005;
	A further 30 per cent. cancellation once a standard IMF programme for Iraq was approved; and
	An additional 20 per cent. cancellation upon a successful IMF Board review of Iraq's implementation of three-years of standard IMF programmes.
	The 2004 Paris Club Agreement also included a clause, which required Iraq to seek comparable debt relief from all its other non-Paris Club sovereign and commercial creditors. All Paris Club and some non- Paris Club sovereign creditors have delivered the first two tranches of debt cancellation. Commercial creditors have also delivered comparable debt relief. We expect remaining non-Paris Club creditors to follow suit.
	The total amount of Iraqi debt cancelled to date (including by Paris Club, non-Paris Club sovereign and commercial creditors) is $42.3 billion. The UK has cancelled £672 million of Iraq's £1,122.8 million debt owed to the UK and will cancel a further £225 million (20 per cent. of UK's original debt stock) in accordance with the terms of the Paris Club agreement.

IT Equipment

Natascha Engel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reinstate the offsetting of small business company profits against the cost of upgrading information technology equipment.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government's capital allowance regime allows all businesses to offset the cost of investment in plant and machinery, including expenditure on information technology equipment, against their business profits. In the 2005 pre-Budget report, the Chancellor announced that first year capital allowances for small businesses' investment expenditure in plant and machinery would be increased to 50 per cent. for the 2006-07 tax year. More details on the capital allowance system can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/camanual/CA20000.htm

Markets in Financial Instruments Directive

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he approved the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive; and when the initial cost benefit analysis for the directive was completed.

Edward Balls: The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) was approved by member states, including the UK, through ECOFIN in April 2004 using a written procedure. The directive's implementing measures were approved by member states, including the UK, at a meeting of the European Securities Committee in June of this year.
	The European Commission produced an impact assessment for MiFID in November 2002 when it published its proposal for the directive. The Treasury published an initial impact assessment with its Explanatory Memorandum on the Commission's proposal for a directive in December 2002. A partial impact assessment on the implementation of MiFID in the UK was published with the Treasury's consultation document on MiFID implementation in December 2005.

Mortgages

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average mortgage rate was in each of the last 30 years.

Edward Balls: Average building society mortgage rates for the last 30 years are provided in the following table, sourced from the Compendium of Housing Finance Statistics produced by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
	
		
			   Average building society mortgage rate 
			 1975 11.08 
			 1976 11.06 
			 1977 11.05 
			 1978 9.55 
			 1979 11.94 
			 1980 14.92 
			 1981 14.01 
			 1982 13.30 
			 1983 11.03 
			 1984 12.19 
			 1985 13.01 
			 1986 12.32 
			 1987 10.34 
			 1988 12.75 
			 1989 14.44 
			 1990 14.34 
			 1991 11.39 
			 1992 8.98 
			 1993 7.94 
			 1994 7.84 
			 1995 7.48 
			 1996 6.51 
			 1997 7.58 
			 1998 7.29 
			 1999 6.49 
			 2000 6.65 
			 2001 5.17 
			 2002 4.96 
			 2003 4.64 
			 2004 5.21 
			 2005 5.15

Necrotising Enterocolitis

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies and children died from necrotising enterocolitis in each year between 2000 and 2006.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many babies and children died from necrotising enterocolitis in each year between 2000 and 2006. (94277)
	The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. The number of neonatal deaths with any mention of necrotising enterocolitis on the death certificate and number of postneonatal deaths with necrotising enterocolitis as underlying cause of death, in England and Wales, from 2000 to 2004 are given in the table below. There were no deaths with necrotising enterocolitis as underlying cause of death in children aged 1 year and over, in this time period.
	
		
			  Neonatal( 1)  and postneonatal( 2)  deaths from necrotising enterocolitis( 3) , England and Wales, 2000-04 
			   Neonatal death  Postneonatal death 
			 2000 92 8 
			 2001 79 22 
			 2002 83 41 
			 2003 98 43 
			 2004 82 55 
			 (1) Deaths under 28 days of life. (2) Deaths at ages 28 days and over but under one year. (3) Figures for 2000 were extracted using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9(th) revision code 777.5 and from 2001 onwards, ICD 10th revision code P77 was used.

Objective 1 Status

Martyn Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total level of  (a) local and  (b) central Government funding received through objective I status in Wales was in each of the last six years; and what estimate he has made of the level of private funding attracted to Wales in connection to objective I seed money.

Stephen Timms: The management of the objective 1 programme in Wales is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.
	The UK Government have provided sufficient funding through spending review settlements for the Welsh Assembly Government in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 spending reviews to enable the Welsh Assembly Government to implement the objective 1 programme in full.

Parliamentary Questions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to question 91084, on national insurance contributions, tabled by the hon. Member for Vale of York on 6 September.

Dawn Primarolo: I replied to the hon. Member on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 291W.

Population Statistics

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities have been identified by the Office for National Statistics as being affected by flawed population statistics.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 October 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about which local authorities have been identified by the Office for National Statistics as being affected by flawed population statistics. (94071)
	The local authority population estimates are calculated from a number of different components. The data sources upon which these components are based vary in terms of their reliability. The Office for National Statistics recognises this and acknowledges that the most difficult to measure component is migration. ONS therefore accepts that LAs with a rapidly changing population structure will be more difficult to measure. Nevertheless, the mid-year population estimates are the best available and are as accurate as possible given the limitations of current sources.
	In September 2004 ONS revised the population estimates of 15 local authorities, which were identified as being the hardest to count areas in the 2001 Census. These were: Westminster, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Newcastle, Derby, Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Stockton-on-Tees, Kingston upon Hull, Milton Keynes, Sunderland, Wandsworth, Wirral, and Southwark. Details of the LA Studies report can be found here:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf
	There is no conclusive evidence available to suggest that any other LAs have been either under or overestimated. ONS is however continuing to invest resources into researching alternative sources and methodologies and has set up the Improving Migration and Population Statistics Project, details of which can be found here:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/data/methodology/specific/population/future/imps/default.asp

Population Statistics

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what purposes mid-year population estimates are used other than for local government finance.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 17 October 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about what purposes mid-year population estimate statistics are used for in addition to local government finance. (94110)
	Mid-year population estimates currently have a wide variety of uses within central government, as well as being used by local authorities and health bodies, other public bodies, commercial companies and individuals in the private and academic sector.
	As the estimates are made freely available via a number of publication routes, including the internet, it is impossible to list all their uses. However, these uses can be categorised into two broad groups:
	Uses where the absolute numbers are of key importance. This may be in terms of allocating financial resources from central government, planning services or grossing up survey results. Some of the main central government uses are concerned with resource allocation and are carried out by the Department for Communities and Local Government for England, and by the Welsh Assembly Government.
	Uses where the population figures are compared with other figures such as the numbers of births or deaths in the calculation of rates and ratios.
	Specific uses include:
	Funding allocation between UK countries in the Barnett formula, by the EU to determine structural fund allocations, by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Welsh Assembly Government for local authorities and Department of Health for Primary Care Organisations;
	As a base for calculation of population estimates by marital status, population estimates by ethnic origin, population estimates for private household estimates, and quarterly population estimates;
	As a base for population projections, marital status projections, and in household projections;
	In the calculation of rates, including mortality rates, morbidity rates, fertility rates, divorce rates, marriage rates and unemployment rates;
	To weight or 'gross up' household surveys like the Survey of English Housing and the Labour Force Survey;
	By Government Departments and local authorities for planning and policy monitoring;
	By commercial companies for combination with marketing information;
	For comparison (on their own or with other data) with other countries by international organisations like the EU, UN, and OECD;
	By the EU to determine allocation of votes under qualified majority voting;
	And by academics in a wide range of research.

Premier League

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations have been made by HM Revenue and Customs into premier league football clubs in the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs has an on-going Employer Compliance and VAT Assurance programme whereby all businesses including football clubs are risked assessed annually. Regular visits are undertaken to businesses to examine their records. The Department is statutorily debarred from disclosing information relating to the tax affairs of those businesses.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations were made by Public and Commercial Services Union  (a) officials and  (b) members on the scope for fraud in the tax credits system in April 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has regular meetings with the Public and Commercial Services Union to discuss a wide range of matters which affect their members, but are unaware of any specific queries relating to tax credit organised fraud raised by the PCS during April 2005.

Tax Credits

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what systems are in place to ensure that records kept on the IT system used to process working family tax credits are not lost in the event of the system breaking down;
	(2)  how many recorded instances the IT system that deals with working family tax credits has overloaded and failed in the last 12 months;
	(3)  what capacity there is to store information on the IT system that processes working family tax credits; and what capacity there is to protect this information in the event of system breakdown;
	(4)  what contractual obligations the supplier of the IT system for the working family tax credit is under for  (a) remedial,  (b) compensatory and  (c) support services in circumstances where the system becomes inoperative.

Dawn Primarolo: The working families tax credit system was decommissioned in April 2005, following the introduction of the working tax credit (WTC) and child tax credit (CTC) in 2003. The following relates to WTC and CTC.
	In the event of a system failure the system and its data can be recovered to the point of failure as back- up copies of data are kept as part of the design of the system. Data and information is fully backed up on a daily basis and securely stored off site.
	The system supporting these credits has not overloaded and there have been no system failures caused by an overload in the period referred to.
	The current tax credits system is designed to cater for all recipients of WTC and CTC and the system databases currently support up to six terabytes of data.
	These tax credits are provided for contractually under the provisions of the Aspire contract dated 5 January 2004, as amended, and the specific IT Service Requirement (service level agreement) agreed for New Tax Credits (NTC).
	Capgemini are responsible for the availability of the online service during the contracted hours, for key transactions, problem and incident investigation and remediation, batch processing, training and security. In the event of failure against the agreed performance measures for availability and completeness of batch processing, Capgemini will be liable for service credits which provide the Department with a rebate of service charges for the service not received.

Tax Credits

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases involving overpayment of tax credits have arisen in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland; and how many have been resolved.

Dawn Primarolo: For estimates of the numbers of in-work families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments, by constituency I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), on 16 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1421W. Information on recovery of overpayments is not available at constituency level.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the findings of the Valuation Office Agency's latest staff attitude survey.

Dawn Primarolo: A copy of the findings of the Valuation Office Agency's latest staff attitude survey will be placed in the Library. The figures regarding staff satisfaction are published annually in the agency's annual report and accounts.

VAT (Fruit Drinks)

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration his Department has given to reducing VAT on pure fruit drinks.

Dawn Primarolo: Most foodstuffs are VAT zero-rated, saving consumers approximately £10.6 billion in the last financial year. This zero rate does not however extend to certain beverages, including fruit drinks. Under binding European VAT agreements, made at the time of the UK's accession to the EC and subsequently, the UK can maintain its existing zero rates but successive Governments have agreed not to extend these, or to introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible under these agreements to remove VAT from fruit drinks and other beverages.
	These same agreements do allow the UK to introduce a reduced rate of VAT of not less than 5 per cent. for foodstuffs which are not zero-rated. While all taxes are kept under review, the use of VAT reduced rates have been used where the tax system offers the most effective and best targeted support for our social objectives, when compared with other policy instruments.
	The 2004 Wanless report on public health highlighted difficulties of principle and practice with dietary based tax changes to support public health. To date, the Government have therefore focused resources to encourage healthy eating choices outside the tax system.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultations have been launched by  (a) her Department and  (b) the Gambling Commission since the passage of the Gambling Act 2005 on gambling, broken down by (i) estimated cost, (ii) length of consultation and (iii) number of responses; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department and the Gambling Commission have launched the following consultation on the Gambling Act 2005.
	
		
			  Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) 
			  Completed consultation  Length (weeks)  Responses  Cost (£) 
			 Categories of gaming machines 12 0 — 
			  Final date for applications for new casinos
			 Under Gaming Act 1968 12 0 — 
			 Licensing authority policy statement 12 34 — 
			 Premises licence fees—costing exercise 6 42 — 
			 Premises permit fees—costing exercise 6 22 — 
			 Transitional arrangements 12 45 1,992 
			 
			  Open consultation
			 Categories of casino regulations (2)12 6 — 
			 Personal licensing (3)8 0 — 
			 Premises licences (mandatory and default conditions) (4)12 (11)1 — 
			 Premises licence regulations (5)12 (11)1 — 
			 Premises licence hearings regulations (6)12 (11)1 — 
			 Premises licence inspection regulations (7)8 (11)0 — 
			 Premise licence responsible authority regulations (8)8 (11)0 — 
			 
			  Gambling Commission
			  Completed consultation
			 Guidance to licensing authorities Part 1: Main Guidance 12 72 15,430 
			 Guidance to licensing authorities Part 2: Small Society Lotteries 12 13 2,115 
			 Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) 13 80 12,693 
			 Licensing, compliance and enforcement 12 44 10,386 
			 Statement of principles on licensing and regulation 13 80 6,625 
			  Supplementary to LCCP: Machine technical standards:
			 Part 1 7 28 — 
			 Part 2 7 Not yet known — 
			 
			  Open consultation
			 Supplementary to LCCP: Financial conditions on gambling operators and personal licence holders (9)6 0 — 
			 Supplementary to LLCP: Types of and rules for casino games (10)6 0 — 
			 
			  Joint DCMS and Gambling Commission
			  Open consultation
			 Gambling Commission fees 12 170 1,815 
			 (1 )Figures given relate to physical production costs of documents only (i.e. typesetting and printing) and do not include staff time costs. Where no figure is given costs are negligible because they have been disseminated through e-mail and the web. (2) Consultation period ends 27 October 2006 (3) Consultation period ends 8 November 2006 (4) Consultation period ends 17 November 2006 (5 )Consultation period ends 15 December 2006 (6) Consultation period ends 15 December 2006. (7 )Consultation period began on 13 October 2006. (8 )Consultation period began on 13 October 2006. (9) Consultation period began on 29 September 2006 (10 )Consultation period began 22 September 2006. (11) To date.

Online Casinos

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's most recent estimate is of the number of online casinos that will be based in the UK in each of the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department has made no estimate.
	For the purposes of calculating draft fees for operating licences, the Gambling Commission assumed that seven remote casino operators would be based onshore from September 2007.

Online Casinos

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has made to the European Commission on the application of Article 49 of the EC Treaty in relation to online gambling in EU member states; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department has made no representations on this specific issue.
	My Department has submitted evidence to the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, which undertook a study on gambling services in the EU's internal market on behalf of the European Commission, and an official attended a briefing for member states hosted by the Swiss Institute.
	We continue to monitor this closely, including any relevant cases before the European Court of Justice.

Thames Gateway

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to include art, culture, heritage and sport in the proposals for the Thames Gateway; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: My Department is working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to ensure that our sectors are fully integrated into plans for the Thames Gateway, and that London's successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provides long-term regeneration benefits for the Lower Lea Valley and the wider Thames Gateway.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will address a plenary session on the role of culture in the Gateway at the annual Thames Gateway Forum on 23 November, and the Department and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be hosting an exhibition stand. The Secretary of State and the Minister for Culture also addressed the Thames Gateway Forum in 2005.
	There are also a number of specific initiatives under way including:
	a Cultural Co-ordinator for the North Kent section of the Thames Gateway was appointed in 2004 with funding from a number of DCMS NDPBs, to assist delivery organisations in the Gateway to plan for culture. The Cultural Co-ordinator was responsible for the publication of a Cultural Framework and Toolkit on 20 July 2006 which provides a vision for culture within the North Kent section of the Thames Gateway, an assessment of current cultural provision in this area, and a directory of the advice and funding available.
	a Cultural Co-ordinator for the London section of the Gateway has also been appointed, and there are plans for a similar post in South Essex.
	English Heritage published a characterisation study—A Welcome Home: a sense of place in the Thames Gateway—in 2004, which gave a broad overview of the character of the area's historic environment and to develop a model for assessing its sensitivity.
	the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has been commissioned by the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership to do a study of the existing character and identity of the Gateway and the places that form it; the drivers for future change; and the role of design in creating a positive, new identity for the Gateway that enhances and improves the landscape and built form.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Child Trust Funds

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost in each year for which such estimates are available of the proposals outlined by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 27 September 2006  (a) to pay an extra £100 a year into Child Trust Fund accounts of those children in care and  (b) to create a £2,000 bursary to help children in care go to university.

Beverley Hughes: The estimated costs for the proposal to top up the Child Trust Fund for children in care in the UK are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2008-09 740,000 
			 2009-10 919,000 
			 2010-11 1,121,000 
			 2011-12 1,360,000 
			 2012-13 1,622,000 
			 2013-14 1,909,000 
			 2014-15 2,243,000 
			 2015-16 2,613,000 
			 2016-17 3,018,000 
			 2017-18 3,472,000 
			 2018-19 3,985,000 
			 2019-20 4,545,000 
			 2020-21 5,106,000 
			 2021-22 5,333,000 
		
	
	The estimated costs for the creation of a £2,000 bursary to help children in care in England go to university are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2008-09 900,000 
			 2009-10 990,000 
			 2010-11 1,089,000

Curriculum Online

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many hits Curriculum Online has received since its commencement; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Curriculum Online website site has attracted over 3 million visits since it was launched in 2003.
	The Curriculum Online website has been designed and updated in consultation with teachers. It has a powerful and innovative search engine that allows teachers to search by subject, title, size of resource (e.g. from a single lesson to whole school) or supplier. Teachers can even search for Foundation resources only, SEN resources only, free/priced resources, or resources for use with an interactive whiteboard. Many products carry independent evaluations and/or teacher reviews to help teachers further in their decision making. The ability to view quotes from several suppliers for the same product can also help teachers to make purchases which offer better value for their money.

Director General for Higher Education

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to appoint a new Director General for Higher Education.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 16 October 2006
	The Department will review the position later in the year and take a decision then. In the meantime, we have an interim in place.

Further Education Enrolment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people enrolled in further education classes  (a) up to the age of 19,  (b) between 20 and 25,  (c) between 26 and 60,  (d) over 60 and  (e) across all age groups in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07.

Bill Rammell: Full-year figures showing the number of people enrolled on LSC-funded courses in Further Education (FE) for 2005-06 and 2006-07 will not be published until December 2006 and December 2007 respectively. However, early-year estimates for participation in 2005-06 were published in a Statistical First Release (SFR) in March 2006, and show the numbers of learners enrolled on FE courses on 1 October 2005. The following table is based on the data underpinning that SFR.
	
		
			  Table 1: Learners enrolled on FE courses on 1 October 2005 
			  Age of learner  Number of learners (000) 
			 19 and under 736.7 
			 20-25 259.2 
			 26-60 1,042.2 
			 61 and older 134.2 
			 Total 2,172.2

Higher Education Maintenance Grant

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students claimed the higher education maintenance grant in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Bill Rammell: It is assumed that the question refers to the higher education grant (HEG) introduced for new students in academic year 2004/05, rather than the new HE maintenance grant which will be introduced in 2006/07, and the question has been answered on this basis. The HEG did not exist before 2004/2005.
	The number(1) of English domiciled students in each Government Office region in receipt of a Higher Education Grant in 2004/05 and 2005/06 (provisional) is given in the table.
	
		
			   Academic year 
			  Government Office region  2004/05  2005/06( 2) 
			 East Midlands 7,500 13,900 
			 East of England 7,700 14,100 
			 London 22,200 40,600 
			 North East 4,800 8,600 
			 North West 15,600 27,900 
			 South East 11,800 21,700 
			 South West 9,300 16,900 
			 West Midlands 10,900 19,700 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 9,700 17,400 
			 Total(3) 99,400 180,800 
			 (1) Numbers rounded to the nearest hundred. (2) Provisional as at 10 October 2006. (3) The total may not be equal to the sum of the constituent parts due to rounding.  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC).

Information Index

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the new Information Index will have the technological capacity to store photographs.

Beverley Hughes: The technical specification for the information sharing index does not include the capacity for it to store photographs.
	The index will hold only basic identifying information, contact details for parents, carers and services accessed, and an indication that a practitioner has information to share, is taking action, or has undertaken an assessment.
	This intention is clearly specified in section 12 of the Children Act 2004.

Student Loans

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the pilot scheme to administer student loans run by Student Finance Direct.

Bill Rammell: We will be evaluating the performance of the pilot in order to learn lessons for the development of the new service which will be rolled out nationally from September 2008 for students starting higher education in the 2009-10 academic year. The Student Loans Company has reported that the pilot unit is currently processing applications within the laid down national performance standards.

Teenage Pregnancy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department have had with the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy about its recommendation to require compulsory lessons in schools on abortion; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department have received from (i) individuals and (ii) organisations about the recommendations made by the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy to require compulsory lessons in schools on abortion; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how much funding his Department has provided to the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy since July.

Beverley Hughes: The Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group's (TPIAG) fourth annual report—published in September 2006—included six recommendations, none of which called on Government to introduce compulsory lessons in schools on abortion.
	In her foreword, however, the TPIAG Chair—Gill Frances—did argue that pregnant young women and their partners should have access to impartial, evidence-based information on the options open to them, including abortion, to help inform the decision about whether or not to continue with the pregnancy. This is a view with which the Government concurs. TPIAG report that many myths prevail, including the fact that abortion may lead to infertility, which they are concerned may be a contributory factor to repeat abortions.
	The TPIAG Chair also argues that school-based Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) programmes should provide opportunities to convey factual information about abortion. The Government expect all schools to offer comprehensive SRE programmes, in line with its SRE guidance to schools, issued in 2000. Schools are also encouraged to evaluate their SRE programmes against the QCA's end of key stage statements, issued in November 2005.
	Ministers in the Department for Education and Skills have received a small amount of correspondence from members of the public concerned about press reports, which wrongly said that TPIAG had called for schools to 'promote the benefits' of abortion. This was not the case.
	The TPIAG monitors implementation and makes independent recommendations on the future development of the teenage pregnancy strategy. Government will publish its formal response to TPIAG's report early next year.
	Members of TPIAG are not paid a salary. All members receive a daily rate for attending meetings (110). The Chair receives an annuity of £15,000 a year, including expenses, reflecting the time and commitment put into tackling this important Government priority.

Teenage Pregnancy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit on reducing teenage pregnancies; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the future of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit.

Beverley Hughes: There has been steady progress on reducing under-18 conception rates since the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched in 1999. Between 1998 (the baseline year for the strategy) and 2004 (the latest year for which data are available), the under-18 rate has fallen by 11.1 per cent. and the under-16 rate has fallen by 15.2 per cent. Both rates are now at their lowest levels for 20 years.
	Delivery guidance issued to local authorities and primary care trusts in July 2006 set out what was working in areas with sharply declining rates and requires all areas to reflect these findings in their future plans. A broader strategy document published in September 2006 provided analysis on the underlying causes of teenage pregnancy, to help local areas to target their strategies on young people at greatest risk.
	The strategy includes a challenging public service agreement target to halve the under-18 conception rate by 2010 (compared to the 1998 baseline rate). We envisage that we will continue to need a small team of policy officials within DfES (the Teenage Pregnancy Unit currently has seven members of staff) to drive forward the Strategy. Broad estimates calculate that every pound spent on the Strategy, results in savings of four pounds to the public purse, when assessed over a period of five years.

Third Sector Forum Children & Young People's Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether there is representation from organisations which work specifically with children with communication disabilities on the Third Sector Forum for Children and Young People's Services.

Parmjit Dhanda: The DfES third sector forum met for the first time in July this year and agreed their terms of reference as "to increase opportunities for effective third sector engagement in children and young people's services, propose solutions and work together to promote agreed action". The forum's 36 members, representing a wide range of organisations, do not look at specific issue-related needs of children and young people but at the generic ways to improve opportunities for third sector organisations. There are no representatives from organisations which work specifically with children with communication disabilities.

University Grants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students received university grants in each of the last 30 years.

Bill Rammell: The table shows the number of students in England and Wales receiving maintenance grants(1, 2) from 1985-86(3) to 2005-06.
	
		
			  Academic year( 4)  Students (000) 
			 1985-86 306 
			 1986-87 306 
			 1987-88 304 
			 1988-89 313 
			 1989-90 329 
			 1990-91 360 
			 1991-92 420 
			 1992-93 496 
			 1993-94 561 
			 1994-95 586 
			 1995-96 583 
			 1996-97 563 
			 1997-98 555 
			 1998-99 (5)359 
			 1999-2000 209 
			 2000-01 69 
			 2001-02 16 
			 2002-03 n/a 
			 2003-04 n/a 
			 2004-05 107 
			 2005-06 (6)202 
			 (1) Data do not include numbers receiving supplementary grants and allowances e.g. students with disabilities, students with dependents, single parent students, those incurring certain travel costs and those who have recently left care. (2 )Data do not include numbers receiving tuition fee remission grants. (3 )The earliest year for which comparable data are available (4 )Data prior to 2004-05 refer to Mandatory Award scheme students. These arrangements applied to students who entered HE up to 1997-98 who received support for maintenance through means-tested grants. Data were not collected for mandatory award students in 2002-03 and subsequent years because of the low numbers of students involved. In 2004-05 and 2005-06, data refer to Student Support Scheme Students (students entering from 1998-99 who received support for living costs mainly through loans which are partly income-assessed) in receipt of a full or part Higher Education Grant (HEG) which was introduced for new students entering from 2004-05. (5 )The drop in the number of students receiving a grant from 1998-99 onwards reflects the fact that maintenance grants were replaced by loans for new students, therefore only existing students continued to receive a maintenance grant. (6) The large rise in the figures shown for 2005-06 reflects the fact that the HEG was introduced in 2004-05 for new students and is now in its second year. There are therefore two cohorts of students in receipt of the HEG, those commencing in 2004-05, and those commencing in 2005-06.  Source: DfES F503G survey of Local Authorities, Student Loans Company (SLC)

Youth Centres

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the impact on  (a) crime,  (b) educational achievement and  (c) antisocial behaviour of the provision of youth centres.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 16 October
	I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of Secretary of State as this question falls within my ministerial responsibilities.
	The Government do not collect specific information on the impact of youth centres or youth clubs.
	We expect high quality youth work and the provision of positive activities to support young people to achieve their full potential and to help reduce young people's engagement in crime and antisocial behaviour. These activities will often be delivered through youth centres, but it is up to local authorities to decide how best to meet their duties and to respond to local needs in doing so.
	Findings from the evaluation of the Positive Activities for Young People, a programme targeted at a hard-to-engage client group, show a range of positive outcomes for participating young people including contributing to reductions in criminal and antisocial behaviour and supporting young people back into education.

WALES

Engagements

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions he has visited each region of the UK in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: As Secretary of State for Wales I have offices in Cardiff and London.
	In my capacity as Secretary of State for Wales, I have carried out ministerial duties outside the office on 46 occasions in Wales, on two occasions in Northern Ireland and on two occasions in the West Midlands.

Ministerial Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1188W, on ministerial visits, on how many occasions he has stayed overnight in Wales while on official business since May 2005.

Peter Hain: Since taking up my post as Secretary of State for Wales and Northern Ireland in May 2005 I have spent 97 days in Wales on official business.
	In addition to the time spent in Wales, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I undertake Wales business in Parliament in the Wales Office at Gwydyr House, London.

Tidal Power

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions  (a) he and  (b) his Department have had with the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the generation of tidal power from the Severn estuary.

Peter Hain: In its submission to the Energy Review, the Welsh Assembly Government called for the Government to commission a new feasibility study on Severn tidal power and the contribution it could make towards reducing our carbon emissions. As Secretary of State, I supported this proposal.
	In the Energy Review, the Government committed, together with the Welsh Assembly Government, to working with the Sustainable Development Commission, the South West of England Regional Development Agency and other key interested parties to explore the issues arising on the tidal resource in the UK. The study is expected to report in early 2007.
	I and my Department will continue to maintain close discussions with the First Minister and his officials on this and other aspects of energy policy as this work is taken forward.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone calls the Child Support Agency received in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of these telephone calls were answered within  (a) five minutes,  (b) 10 minutes and  (c) 30 minutes.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many telephone calls the Child Support Agency received in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of these telephone calls were answered within (a) five minutes (b) 10 minutes and (c) 30 minutes.
	Information on the Agency's telephony performance is contained in table 16 of the Agency's "Quarterly Summary of Statistics", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, or on the internet (http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/csa.asp).
	As it is not currently possible to provide information on the proportion of calls answered within the different time bands specified, statistics on the percentage of calls answered, and the average time to do so, have been provided instead. A breakdown of this information for the twelve months to June 2006, the latest published information, is in the attached table.
	The table shows that, for example, in the month of June 2006:
	439,000 calls were received by the Child Support Agency.
	437,000 of these calls had a recorded outcome, of which:
	13% (57,000) of these calls never progressed to the point at which they were available for staff to answer (for example, because the call was abandoned by the caller during the automated touchtone part of the process).
	87% (380,000) of these calls were available for staff to answer, of which:
	98% (373,000) of these calls were actually answered.
	2% of these calls were abandoned by the caller.
	Calls were answered, on average, 21 seconds after becoming available to staff to answer, which is measured from the point at which the call leaves the automated touchtone part of the process.
	It should be noted that the Agency's telephony performance has greatly improved over the last year. The average time to answer calls decreased from 54 seconds in July 2005 to 21 seconds in June 2006 while the percentage of calls answered that were available for staff to answer increased from 92% to 98% over the same period.
	I hope you find this helpful.
	
		
			  Telephony outcomes for calls to the Child Support Agency between July 2005 and June 2006 
			   July 2005  August 2005  September 2005  October 2005  November 2005  December 2005 
			 Attempted customer calls 418,000 440,000 500,000 480,000 454,000 332,000 
			 Calls for which outcome not recorded 5,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 
			 Calls for which outcome recorded 413,000 436,000 496,000 476,000 452,000 331,000 
			  of which:   
			 Percentage calls that received an engaged/busy tone 0 0 1 5 0 0 
			 Percentage calls otherwise ineffective 2 2 3 3 2 1 
			 Percentage calls abandoned/lost during the IVR process. 5 5 5 6 7 7 
			 Percentage calls abandoned in the queue (post IVR) 8 9 11 8 6 4 
			 Percentage calls answered 86 83 79 77 85 88 
			 Total (percentage) 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			
			 Percentage calls answered that were available to staff to answer (post IVR) 92 90 88 90 93 96 
			 Average answer time from the queue (hh:mm:ss) 0:00:54 0:01:10 0:01:20 0:01:10 0:00:52 0:00:34 
		
	
	
		
			   January 2006  February 2006  March 2006  April 2006  May 2006  June 2006 
			 Attempted customer calls 471,000 428,000 481,000 373,000 431,000 439,000 
			 Calls for which outcome not recorded 3,000 1,000 3,000 0 0 2,000 
			 Calls for which outcome recorded 468,000 427,000 478,000 373,000 431,000 437,000 
			  of which:   
			 Percentage calls that received an engaged/busy tone 0 0 0 0 3 4 
			 Percentage calls otherwise ineffective 3 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Percentage calls abandoned/lost during the IVR process. 6 6 7 7 6 7 
			 Percentage calls abandoned in the queue (post IVR) 6 7 5 3 3 2 
			 Percentage calls answered 85 85 86 89 87 85 
			 Total (percentage) 100 100 100 100 100 100 
			
			 Percentage calls answered that were available to staff to answer (post IVR) 93 92 95 97 97 98 
			 Average answer time from the queue (hh:mm:ss) 0:00:46 0:00:54 0:00:39 0:00:25 0:00:26 0:00:21 
			  Notes: 1. Data is presented for calls made regarding cases on the new system (CS2) and the old system (CSCS) combined. 2. 'Attempted customer calls' exclude calls attempted outside working hours. 3. 'Calls for which outcome not recorded' are those which were received but for which, due to problems with the management information system, the eventual outcome was not recorded. Some of these calls would have been answered, and others would have been abandoned. The volume of such calls has decreased significantly in the last 3 years as management information systems have improved. 4. 'Calls for which outcome recorded' are those which were received and for which there is management information to track the eventual outcome. 5. Other ineffective calls are those that result in a ring tone but no reply, fail due to network technical problems, or are answered by a BT message but do not connect to the CSA system. 6. IVR denotes the automated touch tone part of the process where clients enter their details via the telephone key pad. Once callers have cleared this part of the process, they enter a queue to be answered by a CSA person. 7. The percentage of calls abandoned in the queue refers to the percentage of total calls received, for which the outcome is recorded, that were abandoned once in a queue to be answered by a CSA person. 8. The percentage of calls answered that were available to CSA people to answer refers to calls answered as a proportion of those that were connected to the queue for an agent (post IVR where appropriate). 9. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, and percentages to the nearest 1 per cent. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Child Support Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working days were lost during the process of moving the Child Support Agency to new premises; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds:
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working days were lost during the process of moving the Child Support Agency to new premises; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency has acquired three new sites over the last 12 months to support the requirements of the Operational Improvement Plan and as part of these acquisitions we have transferred a number of people into the Agency from The Pension Service, Jobcentre Plus and the Disability and Carers Service.
	These acquisitions were carefully planned to ensure no working days were lost to the main business. Training was planned in stages and new people were integrated into the main business on completion of training.

Child Support Agency

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what arrangements are made for recipients of child support payments when a payment is not made due to a failure at the Child Support Agency and considerable hardship is likely to be faced as a result;
	(2)  what system is in place to notify recipients of child support payments that their payment will not be made due to failure within the Child Support Agency;
	(3)  what compensation is offered to recipients of child support payments who do not receive payments made due to computer failures within the Child Support Agency  (a) in general and  (b) where bank charges are incurred as a result.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
	What arrangements are made for recipients of child support payments when a payment is not made due to a failure at the Child Support Agency and considerable hardship is likely to be faced as a result;
	What system is in place to notify recipients of child support payments that their payment will not be made due to failure within the Child Support Agency; and
	What compensation is offered to recipients of child support payments who do not receive payments made due to computer failures within the Child Support Agency (a) in general and (b) where bank charges are incurred as a result.
	The Agency has a number of processes in place to ensure that no clients will be disadvantaged by any failings of the CSA in respect of payments due to clients once the required maintenance has been received from the non-resident parent. These processes apply whether this failing is because of system problems or caseworker delay. If problems with the Agency's IT systems prevent case progression, then the case can be progressed clerically. If IT system problems simply prevent the payment from being made, the payment can be processed clerically to ensure that the payment is still issued.
	If a case is progressed clerically both the parent with care and the non-resident parent will be informed that their case is being progressed by a specialist team. However, in cases where systems failures simply prevent the payments due, the issue is only identified at the point the payment fails to reach the parent with care, and the Agency is informed of that failed payment. Once the Agency has been made aware that the payment has not reached its destination, the payment will be made as quickly as possible.
	In the event of such a failure the Agency has a tightly controlled process in place to consider compensation for financial loss as a result of Agency maladministration. This includes any bank charges that may have occurred due to the fault of the Agency. The Agency currently has a Special Payments Team in place to deal with financial redress due to maladministration.
	I have received a letter from you about a particular case where a payment to one of our clients was delayed. We have replied to your letter separately.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  when the decision was taken to use private debt collection agencies for the collection of Child Support Agency arrears;
	(2)  how many Child Support Agency cases have been referred to private debt collection agencies in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many Child Support Agency cases are being handled by private debt collection agencies.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
	When the decision was taken to use private debt collection agencies for the collection of Child Support Agency arrears;
	How many Child Support Agency cases have been referred to private debt collection agencies in each year since 1997; and
	How many Child Support Agency cases are being handled by private debt collection agencies
	The decision to use debt collection agencies for the collection of Child Support Agency debt was announced in Parliament on the 9th February 2006 as part of the Operational Improvement Plan.
	The Agency did not refer any cases to debt collection agencies before August 2005. Between August 2005 and March 2006 the Agency conducted a small scale pilot using two private debt collection agencies to assess the feasibility of involving the private sector to recover Agency debt. As part of this pilot the Agency referred 2000 cases to these agencies. All of these cases were returned to the Agency upon cessation of the pilot.
	Following the pilot and procurement exercise the Agency signed contracts with two debt collection agencies on 7th July 2006. Since then the Agency has referred 4433 cases to these agencies. Of these, 1 case has been returned to the Agency as the arrears had been paid in full and approximately 150 cases have been returned at the request of the Agency because a payment arrangement was negotiated by the Agency shortly after the cases were referred.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Child Support Agency

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what systems his Department has in place to measure the performance of Vertex in dealing with manual cases at the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the length of the term is of the Child Support Agency contract awarded to Vertex; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many cases Vertex has taken over from the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  which Minister made the decision to award the Child Support Agency contract to Vertex; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what criteria were used for the tendering process for the contract for the management of the manual cases of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  how many companies participated in the tender process for the management of manual cases of the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  on what basis the decision was made to award the contract for the management of the manual cases of the Child Support Agency to Vertex; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what the commercial value to Vertex is of the contract for the management of manual Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what training the staff of Vertex have received in handling clerical Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what mechanisms have been put in place to safeguard data protection by Vertex in their handling of Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answers 16 October 2006
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions:
	What systems his Department has in place to measure the performance of Vertex in dealing with manual cases at the Child Support Agency;
	What the term is of the Child Support Agency contract awarded to Vertex;
	How many cases Vertex has taken over from the Child Support Agency;
	Which Minister made the decision to award the Child Support Agency contract to Vertex;
	What criteria were used for the tendering process for the contract for the management of the manual cases of the Child Support Agency;
	How many companies participated in the tender process for the management of manual cases of the Child Support Agency;
	On what basis the decision was made to award the contract for the management of the manual cases of the Child Support Agency to Vertex;
	What the commercial value to Vertex is of the contract for the management of manual cases of the Child Support Agency;
	What training staff of Vertex have received in handling clerical Child Support Agency cases;
	What mechanisms have been put in place to safeguard data protection by Vertex when handling Child Support Agency cases; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency has put in place a robust contract management process to measure the Vertex's performance in managing its clerical cases. This will be achieved through monthly performance and quarterly meetings, where performance will be reviewed and discussed.
	The term of the contract awarded to Vertex was 19 months; this ends in March 2008. Work to the computer system is continuing over 2006/2007 to rectify existing defects. The IT system will be working effectively before the end of the contract with Vertex to enable these cases to be put back onto the system.
	It is planned that Vertex will initially manage 22,500 cases on behalf of the Child Support Agency increasing to 34,000 cases over the life of the contract. To date around 13,500 cases from four of the Agency's six business areas have already transferred to Vertex. The remaining cases are due to transfer later this month.
	The award of the contract for the management of the Child Support Agency's clerical cases was not a Ministerial decision; it was a decision of the Agency. However, Ministers were made aware as soon as the decision had been made.
	The Criteria used for the tendering process (which was conducted in line with European and Government Procurement Rules) for the contract for the management of clerical cases, and the basis for the decision to award the contract to Vertex was:
	The ability to deliver the overall solution
	Bulk case processing experience
	Operational flexibility/contingencies
	Supplier understanding of Clerical Cases Management Service
	Management Controls
	There were initially seven companies involved in the tender process for the management of clerical cases. By the final stage of the process the number of companies had been short-listed to three.
	The decision to award the contract to Vertex was based on pre-determined and agreed criteria that reflected the quality of scheme required against best value for money.
	It is not possible for me to quantify the commercial value of the contract to Vertex. The generic contract cost to the Department for Work and Pensions is in the region of £23 million for the life of the contract.
	The Agency delivered comprehensive training to Vertex trainers over a 3-week period. The Vertex trainers then took this training to their own people who would be managing the clerical cases. Since then the Agency has provided approximately 100 people to Vertex to help consolidate this training and to assist in the early weeks of transition.
	The Agency has rigorous procedures in place to prevent the mis-use of data in its possession, including the requirement for all employees to sign confidentiality agreements, and the random checking of system access by designated managers. The Department for Work and Pensions has over 20 detailed Information Technology (IT) Security and Data Protection policy documents which the Agency must comply with. These cover a diverse range of security matters, from Anti Virus Policy, Monitoring Official Systems Policy, the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and the Freedom of Information Act. Vertex staff are bound by the same rules and policies as the Agency's employees.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Support Agency

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in the last three months in testing the recommendations in the Henshaw report for redesign of the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 16 October 2006
	In our response to Sir David Henshaw's report we set out the broad direction of reform of the child support system. This initiated an informal consultation period which ended on 18 September. We are currently undertaking an intensive programme of work to consider the way forward, including consideration of the responses to the consultation.
	We will publish a White Paper later this autumn with our final, detailed proposals.

Housing Benefit

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new housing benefit claimants have been added in each of the previous five years, broken down by local authority.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Pension Funds

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the impact on the value of pension funds of the post A-Day  (a) changes in the way shares are valued after a company has declared a dividend and  (b) requirement for shares to be valued by the quarter up method;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the total cost to pension funds administration of upgrading IT equipment to accommodate  (a) the post A-Day requirement for shares to be valued by the quarter up method and  (b) the changes to the treatment of ex-dividend shares.

Edward Balls: I have been asked to reply.
	The post A-Day pension tax rules change neither the way shares are valued after a company has declared a dividend or the treatment of ex-dividend shares. They do require, under limited circumstances, for shares held by pension funds to be valued by the quarter up method.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment ("Regulatory Impact Assessment for Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions—Update") was published on 22 March 2006. This sets out the Government's assessment of the impact of pension simplification rules introduced from A-Day and the Government's plans for post-implementation evaluation. It is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/ria-pensions-simplification.pdf.

Pension Protection Fund

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implementation of the compulsory Pension Protection Fund.

James Purnell: The Pension Protection Fund was established to protect members of defined benefit schemes and the defined benefit element of hybrid schemes by paying compensation if their employer becomes insolvent and the pension scheme is under funded to a certain level. In order to have sufficient funds to pay compensation, the PPF charge a compulsory annual levy on all eligible schemes and take in the remaining assets of schemes that enter the PPF. The PPF consulted on their proposals for levy calculation in 2005 and they were well received by industry.
	The second annual report of the PPF will be laid in November outlining in detail the progress made towards the organisation's goals. The PPF is currently issuing invoices for the first risk based levy of UK pension schemes. There are 150 schemes in the PPF Assessment period and in the region of 86,000 members.

TRANSPORT

Carbon Emissions (Air Travel)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to tackle increases in carbon dioxide emissions from air travel.

Gillian Merron: Our priority is pressing for the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emission Trading Scheme from 2008 or as soon as possible. Good progress is being made, and the European Commission are committed to bring forward a legislative proposal by the end of this year.

Carbon Emissions (Air Travel)

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the inclusion of aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme.

Gillian Merron: Good progress has been made and, under our chairmanship last year, the European Union Environment Council agreed that emissions trading seems to be the best way forward, and called for a legislative proposal by the end of 2006 which was committed to by the European Commission.

Road Pricing

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a national road user pricing scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans for road pricing.

Stephen Ladyman: We are exploring the potential for road pricing to address the very serious congestion problems that we face. We are encouraging local authorities to develop road pricing schemes to help us understand better how pricing works in practice.
	Work that has been done over the last three years confirms that we should take a measured approach in introducing road pricing, and these pilots will help inform decisions about how to move to a national system of road pricing.

Road Pricing

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential of road pricing to reduce congestion.

Stephen Ladyman: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said earlier, the feasibility study of road pricing indicated that road pricing has the potential to cut congestion long term by nearly half with only 4 per cent. less traffic using the road.
	We wish to explore this potential by encouraging road pricing pilots in local areas. These pilots will help inform our decisions about how to move to a national system of road pricing.

Nottingham Light Rail

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the decision on funding of the Nottingham light rail extension will be made.

Tom Harris: Officials at the Department for Transport have been working closely with the promoters of the phase 2 extensions to the Nottingham Express Transit to ascertain the scheme's value for money aspects. We hope to announce a decision in the near future.

Congestion Charging

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce congestion charging in Manchester and Birmingham.

Stephen Ladyman: Any decisions to implement road pricing in a city will be taken locally. Authorities in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands are working hard to develop options to tackle the serious congestion problems they face. Both are looking at the role road pricing might play in a congestion reduction strategy, but more work is needed before any decisions can be taken. This work is being supported by funding from the Department.

Rail Freight

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in volumes of rail freight since 1997.

Tom Harris: The amount of freight moved by rail increased from 13.3 to 22.11 billion net tonne kilometres between 1996-97 and 2005-06. This represents an increase of 46.4 per cent.

Air Travel (Access)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage the improvement of access to air travel for disabled people.

Gillian Merron: During its EU Presidency this Government gave priority to progressing a new European Council Regulation on the rights of disabled people travelling by air. This will apply with effect from July 2007. We are also considering research findings assessing the industry's compliance with our existing UK voluntary code of practice.

Road Network

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve management of the trunk road network.

Stephen Ladyman: Through the Traffic Management Act, the Highways Agency has new powers to keep traffic flowing and improve journey reliability and manage congestion. This allows the newly appointed HA Traffic Officers to stop and direct traffic in live carriageways and support the police.

A14

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency will publish its report on potential improvements to the A14 around Kettering.

Stephen Ladyman: I have asked the Highways Agency to finalise the A14 Kettering Bypass Widening Options Study and submit recommendations on potential improvements early in 2007, so that I can make a decision on the way forward.

Buses

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change has been in spending on bus transport in each of the last three years.

Gillian Merron: Local and central Government spending on bus support in England has increased from just over £1.64 billion in 2003-04 to £1.7 billion in 2004-05 and is estimated to have increased further to over £1.8 billion in 2005-06.
	Local authority capital expenditure on bus infrastructure has increased from £131 million in 2003-04 to £153 million in 2004-05 and is estimated to have stayed at this level in 2005-06.

Channel Tunnel

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much freight was transported by rail through the channel tunnel on average in each month of the last period for which figures are available; and what estimate his Department has made of the levels of rail freight which will continue to use the channel tunnel after the Government withdraws its subsidies to English Welsh and Scottish Railways International on 1 December.

Tom Harris: Over the period between June 2005 and May 2006 an average of 130,800 tonnes of freight was transported by rail through the channel tunnel each month.
	The Department has made no estimate on the levels of rail freight that will continue to use the channel tunnel after 1 December 2006 when existing contractual arrangements come to an end: these estimates are a commercial matter for the UK's channel tunnel rail freight operator English Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWSI) and Eurotunnel.

Channel Tunnel

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections his Department has made of the likely effect on the environment from carbon emissions that may be created should freight transported by rail through the Channel Tunnel be transported by alternative means.

Tom Harris: There are a number of assumptions that have to be made on the mode and likely route used for freight if rail freight services through the Channel Tunnel cease. We estimate that if the current level of channel tunnel railfreight is transported by road, then the additional carbon emission in Great Britain will be in the region of 2,000 tonnes per annum.

Channel Tunnel

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the possible effect on the number of jobs in UK freight yards if subsidies for freight operating companies using the Channel Tunnel are withdrawn.

Tom Harris: This is a commercial matter for the private sector rail operators which employ these staff.

Correspondence

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter of 1 September from Sir Robert Atkins MEP.

Gillian Merron: A response was sent to Sir Robert Atkins MEP on 17 October 2006.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Office spent on organising and hosting conferences in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: The cost of organising and hosting conferences across the Department and its Executive Agencies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Driving Licences

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people aged  (a) 18 and  (b) 19 years hold a UK (i) provisional and (ii) full driving licence.

Stephen Ladyman: The figures required, which are correct as at January 2006, are:
	
		
			   Age 18  Age 19 
			 Provisional Licence 312,394 273,615 
			 Full Licence 213,194 276,501

Electronic Under-road Sensors

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines are in place to ensure the correct positioning of electronic under-road sensors in new road schemes.

Stephen Ladyman: A range of electronic sensors may be installed in new road schemes. The most common sensors installed under the road surface are inductive loop detectors. These provide traffic data and operate traffic signals and other traffic management systems such as MIDAS (Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling), the queue protection system that operates on some motorways. The guidelines for the provision of loop detectors are contained in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, HD20/05 "Detector Loops for Motorways" and the standards for their installation are contained within MCH 1540 "Specification for the Installation of Detector Loops on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads". Both documents are available from the Highways Agency.

Foreign Registered Vehicles

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign-registered vehicles have been inspected in the South East International Transport Project during the 2006-07 financial year; how many prohibitions were issued as a result, broken down by type of offence; and how many prosecutions have resulted from those inspections during the current financial year.

Stephen Ladyman: The following tables shows the number of foreign-registered vehicles inspected and prohibitions issued during the South East pilot in the current financial year:
	
		
			  Roadworthiness offences 
			   Number 
			  Heavy Goods Vehicles  
			 Inspected 4,342 
			 Prohibitions 2,073 
			   
			  Trailers  
			 Inspected 4,200 
			 Prohibitions 2,040 
		
	
	
		
			  Traffic enforcement offences 
			   Number 
			  Drivers' hours  
			 Inspected 6,513 
			 Prohibitions 1,418 
			   
			  Overloading  
			 Inspected 1,921 
			 Prohibitions 424 
		
	
	It is possible for one vehicle to have been inspected for a combination of roadworthiness, drivers hours and/or weight checks.
	Prosecutions have not resulted from these activities because Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are unable to secure attendance of non-UK resident offenders in court, nor can any penalty given in their absence be enforced.
	Currently, action VOSA can take against foreign haulers includes direction out of the country, notification of the offence to the appropriate authority within their member state for local redress or, in certain circumstances, vehicle impounding.
	The Road Safety Bill, which is currently before Parliament, includes proposals for the introduction of deposits against penalties in relation to offences detected at the roadside.

Fuel Efficiency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department investigates the claims made by the promoters of fuel improvement products in relation to reductions in  (a) fuel use and  (b) emissions.

Gillian Merron: The Department for Transport published a "Good Practice Guide" on Fuel Saving Devices (Good Practice Guide 313) in February 2003. This guide, which is aimed primarily at fleet operators, gives general advice to potential purchasers on the testing of fuel saving devices and after-market fuel additives. The guide is available on the Freight Best Practice website (http://www.freightbestpractice.org.uk /pubsub.aspx?SectionID=1).
	The Department encourages inventors and those marketing products claimed to deliver fuel or emissions savings to obtain test data from independent experts to support their claims. A fact sheet is available from the Department which advises inventors, or other interested parties, of reputable test laboratories that might be approached for assistance in verifying claims, of Trade Associations, and of possible sources of funding for innovative technologies.
	Where false or unsustainable claims are made for a fuel treatment that is offered for sale, action against the advertiser would be a matter for the Advertising Standards Authority or Trading Standards.

Manchester Airport

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what role the Department has in monitoring the compensation arrangements for homeowners affected by the operation of Manchester airport's second runway;
	(2)  whether he plans to reform the compensation arrangements for homeowners affected by the construction and operation of new runways at UK airports;
	(3)  what compensation arrangements are made for homeowners affected by the operation of new runways at UK airports; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what procedures exist for compensating individuals for the impact of  (a) new road schemes and  (b) new airport runways.

Gillian Merron: Applications for compensation in relation to Manchester Airport's second runway are being considered in conformity with Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. Manchester airport has been operating this scheme since 5 February 2002. The Government have no role in its implementation. Statutory blight and discretionary purchase powers also apply in the case of major road schemes.
	"The Future of Air Transport" White Paper (2003) invited airport operators to bring forward their own non-statutory compensation schemes where new runways are supported in the White Paper or where land is safeguarded for new development. The scope and content of these schemes is a matter for the individual airports to determine.
	The Government have no plans to change the current statutory compensation arrangements or bring generalised blight within the statutory framework.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the location is of each stretch of motorway which has speed restrictions in force on a 24-hour basis to protect the work force where the roadworks are not being carried out on a 24-hour basis.

Stephen Ladyman: There are no speed restrictions in place purely to protect the work force. The following table gives the location of speed restrictions which are currently in force, on motorways, on a 24-hour basis where works are not being carried out on a 24 hour basis.
	
		
			  24/7 speed restrictions where works are not 24/7 
			  Motorway  Junction(s)  Location  Reason 
			 M56 Weaver Viaduct 12 E and W/bound Nr Frodsham, Cheshire Speed restriction—40mph; all cameras 'live'; operatives working dayshift only. The predominant reason for the speed limit at Weaver is that parapets are being removed/replaced in sections—there is Variogard (barriers) up resulting in narrow lanes, hence the speed limit restriction for safety. The workforce issue is therefore a secondary reason 
			 A1(M) 8-7 N and S/bound Stevenage Speed restriction due to an incomplete safety barrier and opened excavations behind the barrier 
			 M11 8 S/bound exit slip Stanstead Airport Speed restriction imposed due to the presence of narrow lanes through the works 
			 M40 4 E and W/bound Beaconsfield Speed restriction imposed due to the presence of Variogard/cones and narrow lanes 
			 M2 Junction 6-7 Salters Lane, Brockdale and Ashford Road, Faversham Work involves bridge column strengthening. Open excavations and unprotected columns in place-traffic management needed at all times to protect the motorist 
			 M4 18-19 E and W/bound Bath—Bristol Narrow lanes in place 24 hours. Open excavations with a temporary Varioguard barrier in place. Reduction of speed limit is needed where temporary barriers and narrow lanes are in place to protect the safety of the travelling public 
			 M4 16-17 E and W/bound Wootten Bassett—Chippenham Narrow lanes (24 hours) and temporary Variogard barrier in place 
			 M1 (Jct with M69) 21 (with M69 Junction) Leicester Work is taking place on the roundabout underneath the motorway junction-speed restriction of 50 mph is on M1 above to reduce speed of traffic entering slip road where speed is reduced to 30 mph for safety of travelling public and workforce 
			 M6 12-13 N and S/bound Staffordshire Safety through contraflow 
			 M1 widening junctions 6a to 10 8 to 10 northbound Hemel to Luton Narrow lanes, large number of HGVs, close proximity of junctions hence merge and diverge movements, exposed excavations, uneven surfaces, contraflow lane 
			  10 to 8 southbound Luton to Hemel As above 
			 A1(M) A1M/A1/A614 East of J32 of the M1 Blyth, Notts Speed restriction due to build a new grade separated junction at Blyth. 50 mph restriction for safety of road user and workforce-who will often be working at night

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of accidents caused on stretches of motorway  (a) which are unlit and  (b) with lighting since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is published in the annual publication "Road Casualties Great Britain". Copies of this publication are available from the Libraries of the House.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed on 11 September near to junction 21; why a complete closure was deemed necessary in both directions; and by whom that decision was made.

Stephen Ladyman: The southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway was closed between Junctions 21 and 20 shortly after 07.35 hours on 11 September, as a result of a traffic accident between a heavy goods vehicle and a car. Both vehicles overturned, damaging the verge safety barriers and causing severe damage to the carriageway surface. In addition there was substantial oil spillage.
	The southbound carriageway remained closed to allow for the removal of the vehicles and repair work to be carried out. The northbound carriageway was not closed at any stage.
	The original estimated time for reopening was 18.00 hours but recovery and repair work progressed well and the closure was lifted at 16.43 hours.
	The closure was instigated and subsequently lifted by the Highways Agency's East Midlands Regional Control Centre following discussions with Highways Agency Traffic Officers on site.

Motorways

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the operation of the active traffic management and hard shoulder running on the M42.

Stephen Ladyman: Early indications from our monitoring are that hard shoulder running has increased capacity by 13 per cent. and significantly improved journey times without any adverse effect on safety. However, in order to obtain a statistically significant measure of the traffic impact of hard shoulder running, a period of at least 12 months of operation will be required. Due to the relatively low number of accidents that occur on motorways, at least three years of 'after accident' data will also be needed before an overall conclusion can be reached on the impact of hard shoulder running on safety.

Night Flights

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many night flights there were from  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Stansted and  (d) Nottingham East Midlands airports in each of the last five years; and if he will designate Nottingham East Midlands Airport under section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and put a night movements limit on that airport.

Gillian Merron: Night movements between 2330 and 0600 at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are controlled by a movements limit and a supplementary noise quota to encourage the use of quieter aircraft. The movements limits and noise quotas are set for a season, the seasons change with the clocks. There are also controls between 2300-2330 and 0600-0700 to prevent the noisiest aircraft from operating.
	The number of movements against the limits at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports from winter 2000-01 to winter 2005-06 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Movements against limit 2330-0600 (movement limits in brackets( 1) ) 
			   Gatwick  Heathrow  Stansted 
			 Winter 2000-01 3,431 (5,250) 2,615 (2,550) 2,190 (5,000) 
			 Summer 2001 10,890 (77,200) 2,939 (3,250) 5,035 (7,000) 
			 Winter 2001-02 2,864 (5,250) 2,684 (2,550) 2,445 (5,000) 
			 Summer 2002 9,358 (77,200) 2,937 (3,250) 5,297 (7,000) 
			 Winter 2002-03 2,976 (5,250) 2,620 (2,550) 2,862 (5,000) 
			 Summer 2003 8,978 (77,200) 2,899 (3,250) 4,832 (7,000) 
			 Winter 2003-04 2,604 (5,250) 2,683 (2,550) 2,436 (5,000) 
			 Summer 2004 7,370 (77,200) 2,993 (3,250) 5,390 (7,000) 
			 Winter 2004-05 3,000 (5,250) 2,591 (2,550) 3,112(5,000) 
			 Summer 2005 10,591 (77,200) 2,956 (3,250) 5,846 (7,000) 
			 Winter 2005-06 3,257 (5,250) 2,669 (2,550) — 
			 (1) The movements limit in some seasons has been enhanced under the end of season flexibility rules whereby 5 per cent. or 10 per cent. of the previous season's movements limit can be carried forward if it has not been used. 
		
	
	Similar information was not available from Nottingham East Midlands Airport. However, the number of movements between the hours of 2300 and 0700 for each calendar year from 2001 to 2005 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Total number of movements 2300-0700 
			   Gatwick  Heathrow  Stansted  NEMA 
			 2001 25,912 20,790 15,887 15,554 
			 2002 24,506 26,465 17,253 17,165 
			 2003 24,208 25,558 21,332 17,475 
			 2004 25,950 26,516 21,489 17,082 
			 2005 27,419 27,226 23,764 16,543 
		
	
	The Government's policy remains as set out in the White Paper, namely that control of nuisance due to operational noise from aircraft should, so far as practical, be determined locally. It is not guaranteed that s.78 regulation would lead to tougher controls or movements limits.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total expenditure on upgrading and improving the West Coast Mainline was in each of the last 20 years.

Tom Harris: The forecast outturn cost of the West Coast Route Modernisation Project, which started in 1998 and to be completed by early 2009, is £8.125 billion.
	Up to early 2003, when the SRA became actively involved with this project (and now the Department for Transport) a total of £3.186 billion had been committed to the Project. Since then, expenditure has been some £1.574 billion in 2003-04, £1.210 billion in 2004-05 and £850 million in 2005-06. The balance (£1.305 billion) is being spent up to completion of the Project.
	The Department does not have figures of work carried out previously to modernise the line in the 1970s and earlier, under the aegis of the then British Railways Board.

Transport Infrastructure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total  (a) Government and  (b) private funding for transport infrastructure was in each of the last 30 years at today's prices; and what projected spending is for the next three years.

Gillian Merron: Data on Government and private funding for transport infrastructure in Great Britain are shown in the following table; it is available from 1985-86 only. There are no data available for projected spending on transport infrastructure.
	A split by public and private funding is not available for rail and ports infrastructure.
	Further information on transport funding can be found in Tables 1.14 and 1.15 in "Transport Statistics Great Britain" on the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk.
	
		
			  Public and private funding for transport infrastructure, 1985-86 to 2004-05 
			  £ million 
			   1985-86  1986-87  1987-88  1988-89  1989-90  1990-91  1991-92  1992-93  1993-94 
			 Road Infrastructure  
			 Public 4,877 4,912 5,110 5,267 6,025 6,354 6,154 6,256 6,237 
			 Private 0 0 16 108 89 74 40 175 107 
			 Total 4,877 4,912 5,127 5,375 6,115 6,428 6,195 6,431 6,343 
			 Rail infrastructure 1,240 1,225 1,628 1,873 2,367 2,778 3,085 3,167 2,412 
			 Ports infrastructure 224 135 119 144 182 192 161 145 162 
			   
			 Airports and air traffic control  
			 Public(1) 126 128 137 195 227 286 323 338 297 
			 Private(1) 306 296 321 303 379 570 321 246 368 
			 Total 431 424 458 498 605 856 644 584 664 
		
	
	
		
			  Public and private funding for transport infrastructure, 1985-86 to 2004-05 
			  £ million 
			   1994-95  1995-96  1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03 
			 Road infrastructure  
			 Public 6,072 5,330 4,367 3,871 3,417 3,477 3,735 3,973 4,348 
			 Private 112 129 457 297 321 72 52 49 41 
			 Total 6,183 5,459 4,824 4,168 3,737 3,549 3,787 4,023 4,389 
			 Rail infrastructure 2,595 2,523 2,712 2,759 3,055 3,595 3,116 3,983 4,489 
			 Ports infrastructure 156 208 183 237 277 283 229 254 250 
			   
			 Airports and air traffic control  
			 Public(1) 266 177 208 256 162 183 182 63 75 
			 Private(1) 564 559 564 669 626 579 632 687 829 
			 Total 830 735 773 925 788 762 814 750 904 
			 (1) Investment in NATS switched from public to private funding between 2000-01 and 2001-02.

Trunk Roads (Northamptonshire)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to build new trunk roads in Northamptonshire in the next 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands (RSS 8), published in 2005, provides a broad development strategy for the region up to 2021.
	The Regional Transport Strategy included within RSS 8 does not contain any proposals for building new trunk roads in Northamptonshire in the next 10 years.
	However, RSS 8 does include improvements to existing trunk roads scheduled for the next 10 years, namely the A14 Kettering Bypass and the A45 Stanwick to Thrapston Improvement.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) senior civil service and (b) pay level 10 posts there were within the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency on 1 January 2005; how many in each category there were on 31 August 2006; and what the total pay bill including bonuses was for each group of staff in 2005-06.

Stephen Ladyman: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency had four senior civil services posts on 1 January 2005 and four on 31 August 2006. It had four Level 10 posts on 1 January 2005 and six on 31 August 2006.
	The pay bill, including bonuses, in 2005-06 was:
	Senior civil service—£434,394
	Level 10—£356,012

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the terms of reference are of the Deloitte study into the possible outsourcing of work being carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency; what the initial conclusions of the study are; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The terms of reference for the Deloitte study are commercial in confidence. It is too early to say what the initial conclusions of the study are.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) senior civil servants and  (b) other staff from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency attended the launch celebrations of the MOT Computerisation project held on the SS Great Britain in Bristol.

Stephen Ladyman: The MOT Computerisation launch celebrations held on the SS Great Britain were hosted by Siemens Business Services. 42 VOSA staff were able to accept the invitation to attend. Three attendees were senior civil servants.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roadside checks the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency conducted  (a) with and (b) without support from local police forces in each of the last six years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) publishes the number of roadside checks carried out annually in its Effectiveness Report. This is available on-line at www.vosa.gov.uk and in the House of Commons Library, Business and Transport Section. VOSA's records do not separate which checks are conducted with or without police support.

Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why no representative from East Yorkshire sits as a member of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board.

Gillian Merron: The composition of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board is a matter for the regional assembly in the region.

Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make changes to the composition of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board to include a representative from the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Gillian Merron: The composition of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Transport Board is a matter for the regional assembly in the region.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Arrangements

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what new powers will be available to electoral registration officers conducting the annual canvas.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act includes a new duty on electoral registration officers, that came into force on 11 September. The duty requires EROs to take all necessary steps to ensure a comprehensive register, including sending reminders of the canvass form, data-sharing, training their staff, a personal canvass and anything else they think appropriate to make contact.

Electoral Arrangements

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects to introduce a marked register of postal votes received.

Bridget Prentice: The Government intend to introduce a marked register of returned postal votes in time for elections in May 2007.

Electoral Arrangements

David Kidney: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the timescale is for requiring electoral registration officers to carry out their duties relating to electoral registration under the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

Bridget Prentice: In the Electoral Administration Act, the Government placed a duty on electoral registration officers to take necessary steps to have a comprehensive electoral register and also enabled them to promote electoral registration. This will be carried out during the annual canvass and throughout the year during "Rolling registration".

Electoral Arrangements

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of eligible voters missing from the Electoral Register in Ochil and South Perthshire.

Bridget Prentice: These statistics are not collected by this Department. A comparison between those included in the current register for Ochil and South Perthshire and the census figures for the same area compiled in 2001 suggests a possible under-registration of about 1.1 per cent. In my hon. Friend's constituency the number of people registered to vote in the past year has increased from 71,036 to 71,879.

Electoral Arrangements

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what targets she has set for electoral registration officers in relation to improving their electoral registers.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act includes a provision for the Electoral Commission to introduce new performance measures for electoral registration officers. The EC are currently developing those standards and these will be implemented in due course.

Coroners

John Whittingdale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on her proposals to reform the coroner system.

Harriet Harman: We published a draft Bill on reform of the coroner system on 12 June. The Bill will introduce national leadership and national standards—in particular the services which bereaved people can expect to receive, including access to a new appeal system. It will also make transparent the system for appointing coroners and increase their powers when conducting their investigations.

Claims Handlers

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in establishing a regulatory structure for consumer complaints about claims handlers.

Bridget Prentice: The Compensation Act received Royal Assent on 25 July 2006 and the Department is now implementing the regulatory framework for claims management services. The main regulatory mechanisms will be in place by the end of November 2006 and companies and any other relevant organisations will be invited to apply for authorisation. The offences and all other key provisions, including those relating to the handling of complaints will be fully commenced by April 2007.

Magistrates

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress she has made in increasing diversity among magistrates.

Harriet Harman: The proportion of minority ethnic magistrates stood at just over 7 per cent. at the start of 2006. Magistrates under 40 stood at just over 4 per cent. in 2006. There remains a roughly even split on gender. We will continue our efforts to ensure magistrates reflect the diverse communities they serve.

Airports

George Osborne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether financial assistance is available to homeowners affected by the operation of new runways at UK airports to help them take their cases to the Lands Tribunal.

Vera Baird: Any individual who qualifies for legal aid under the standard means and merits criteria can obtain legal advice and information on a variety of matters under the Legal Help scheme including for preparatory work for the Lands Tribunal.
	In addition, although advocacy before the Lands Tribunal is outside the scope of civil legal aid, funding can be granted in exceptional circumstances, subject to strict criteria.

Arrest Warrants

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many arrest warrants have been issued in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; and how many people have subsequently been arrested on foot of such warrants.

Bridget Prentice: Statistics on the number of arrest and bench warrants issued and executed were not centrally collated prior to the introduction of a new IT system in September 2006. Consequently it is not possible to provide the requested information without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of defendants who had an arrest or bench warrant issued against them at any stage of their court proceedings is collated at point of case disposal. The following table details the number of defendants dealt with in magistrates courts, youth courts and the Crown court in Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2005 who had a warrant of arrest or bench warrant issued at some stage in the proceedings.
	
		
			  Defendants disposed of with at least one arrest or bench warrant issued against them 
			   Defendants with a warrant  Defendants with no warrant  Total defendants 
			 2000 2,068 49,455 51,523 
			 2001 2,007 45,616 47,623 
			 2002 2,271 43,799 46,070 
			 2003 2,465 51,745 54,210 
			 2004 2,680 54,198 56,878 
			 2005 2,460 51,459 53,919

Care Orders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average time was between a care order being made and the final placement hearing in  (a) London and  (b) England in the last period for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: This information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Agency Staff

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of  (a) staff and  (b) new staff employed since April 2005 in (i) her Department and (ii) each of the agencies for which she has responsibility is recorded as disabled.

Bridget Prentice: Data on the disability status of  (a) staff as at 30 September 2006 and  (b) new entrants in the Department for Constitutional Affairs since 1 April 2005 is in the following table. Central data on disability statistics are collected via a voluntary confidential questionnaire, which is sent to all staff.
	
		
			  Table A: Proportion of staff recorded as disabled of DCA agencies as at 30 September 2006—non-industrial and industrial staff/headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs agencies  Staff in post  Proportion of staff in post recorded as disabled  Percentage of employees declared as disabled 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs 2,082 97 4.6 
			 Her Majesty's Court Service 22,748 632 2.7 
			 Public Guardianship Office 342 13 3.8 
			 Tribunals 3,094 93 3.0 
			 Wales Office 56 (1)— 1.7 
			 (Scotland Office only) and Office of Advocate General (22) (1)— 0 
			 National Archives 640 29 4.5 
			 Land Registry 8,527 552 6.5 
			 Grand total all DCA agencies 37,511 1,417 3.7 
			 (1) Number below 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: New entrants since 1 April 2005 recorded as disabled for DCA agencies—non industrial and industrial staff / headcount 
			  Department for Constitutional Affairs agencies  Entrants  Proportion of entrants recorded as disabled  Percentage of entrants declared as disabled 
			 Department for Constitutional Affairs 672 12 1.7 
			 Her Majesty's Court Service 14,318 252 1.7 
			 Public Guardianship Office 71 (1)— 1.4 
			 Tribunals 2,308 49 2.1 
			 Wales Office 11 (1)— 0 
			 (Scotland Office only) and Office of Advocate General (10) (1)— 0 
			 National Archives 121 (1)— 3.3 
			 Land Registry 131 10 6.1 
			 Grand total all DCA agencies 17,639 324 1.8 
			 (1 )Number below 5

Electoral Administration Act 2006

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which of the provisions introduced in the Electoral Administration Act 2006 will not be implemented before May 2007.

Bridget Prentice: The Government intend all provisions introduced in the Electoral Administration Act 2006 will be implemented before May 2007, with the exception of section 10, concerning anonymous registration, which we intend to commence in June 2007.

Freedom of Information

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many freedom of information (FOI) requests were under consideration at the FOI clearing house as of 9 October 2006, broken down by Government department.

Vera Baird: As of the 9 October 2006, the Clearing House had under consideration 338 FOI requests referred to it by central Government departments. The breakdown by Government department is detailed as follows:
	Cabinet Office—60
	Department for Constitutional Affairs—21
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport—20
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs—10
	Department for Education and Skills—2
	Department for International Development—1
	Department for Transport—3
	Department of Health—20
	Department of Trade and Industry—15
	Department for Work and Pensions—4
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office—38
	Her Majesty's Treasury—33
	Home Office—30
	Ministry of Defence—29
	Northern Ireland Office—6
	Department for Communities and Local Government—19
	Office of National Statistics—1
	Charity Commission—1
	Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs—5
	Export Credits Guarantee Department—1
	Crown Prosecution Service—1
	The National Archives—11
	Other—7
	Total—338

Freedom of Information

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department has collected statistics on the number of freedom of information requests turned down by  (a) Departments and  (b) non-departmental public bodies on the grounds that the request was considered to be vexatious.

Vera Baird: On 22 May 2006, the DCA published the First Annual Report on the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The report includes detailed statistics on the number of freedom of information requests refused on the grounds that the request was vexatious by Departments of state and by other central Government bodies monitored by DCA.
	The Freedom of Information Annual Report 2005 can be found online at:
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/imprep/annrep05.pdf

Freedom of Information

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the report on the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Statistics on Implementation in Central Government, Second Quarter 2006, April to June, what assessment has been made of the reasons for the changes in the number of freedom of information requests made to departments.

Vera Baird: There were 4,293 requests made to Departments of State under the Freedom of Information Act during the second quarter of the 2006 calendar year. This represents a fall of 623 from the first quarter of the year, but an increase of 465 compared to same quarter of 2005.
	There appears to be a slight increase in the underlying trend in Department of State request numbers. However, it is too early to be precise on this point, because year-on-year comparisons may be distorted by seasonal variations and atypical periods of activity.

Legal Aid

Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much has been paid in relation to family law cases by the Legal Services Commission in the last five years in respect of  (a) solicitors' profit costs,  (b) barristers' fees and  (c) experts' fees.

Vera Baird: The following table shows expenditure on solicitors and barristers. Records are kept only on disbursements generally rather than experts' fees specifically.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Solicitors  Barristers 
			 2001-02 289.3 81.6 
			 2002-03 306.6 110.9 
			 2003-04 323.2 120.8 
			 2004-05 314.8 110.2 
			 2005-06 332.6 118.1

Legal Aid

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many firms of solicitors in England and Wales undertake Legal Services Commission funded work in family law; and how many undertook such work in 1997.

Vera Baird: The Legal Services Commission holds data on the number of solicitors' offices with legal help contracts, as each office requires a separate contract. For example a single firm might have five offices and that would be recorded as five contracts.
	The number of offices with active legal help contracts in family as at 31 March 2006 (which are the latest data available) was 2,881, with a further 227 classified as "Licence Only". Some of this latter group will be paid for certificated family work. This gives a total of 3,108.
	During the financial year 1997/98 there were a total of 10,601 active legal aid offices funded by the Legal Aid Board, with 86 per cent. doing "matrimonial work" giving a figure of 9,117 offices.
	The figures show a drop in the number of such offices of some two-thirds since 1997-98. The majority of those that stopped undertaking family work were not full-time specialists. In particular, the introduction of civil contracting in 2000 was intended to ensure that only the best quality specialists did the work.
	The continuing decline in numbers since then has been caused by the introduction of more rigorous quality assurance procedures, which have removed those service providers who are failing to deliver quality legal services.

Mental Capacity Act

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects the Mental Capacity Act 2005 code of practice to be laid before Parliament for approval; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: A public consultation on the draft code of practice ran from 9 March 2006 to 2 June 2006 and the response to consultation was published on 29 September 2006. The draft code is currently being revised to take into account the comments received during the consultation process. The revised code is expected to be laid before Parliament by the end of the year.

Political Parties

Clive Betts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many seats were contested at the  (a) last General Election and  (b) 2005 local elections by (i) the British National Party, (ii) the UK Independence Party and (iii) both parties.

Bridget Prentice: The Government does not collate information on the number of candidates standing for particular political parties at national or local elections.
	A full breakdown of the General Election 2005 results can be found in the publication "Election 2005—The Official Results", compiled by Colin Railings and Michael Thrasher, on behalf of the Electoral Commission, which indicates that 119 BNP candidates stood at the 2005 General Election.
	There is no Independent Party registered with the Electoral Commission.

Public Records

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which documents which were previously subject to extended 100-year closure under the provisions of section 5(1) of the Public Records Act 1958 were released by the National Archives  (a) during the past six months and  (b) before the documents were 100 years old.

Vera Baird: Between 1 April 2006 and 10 October 2006, 414 records have been released by The National Archives all of which were opened before their 100 year closure period expired.
	The requested information has been placed in both libraries of the House.

Statute Law Repeal Bills

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what criteria the Law Commission uses to select subjects for proposed Statute Law Repeal Bills; what consultation is undertaken by the Law Commission prior to the introduction of a Statute Law Repeals Bill; how  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public may suggest issues for repeal; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: Statute Law (Repeals) Bills remove obsolete legislation from the statute book. The Law Commission uses several criteria to select subjects for these Bills. These include an evaluation of the benefit of the repeals proposed as against the resources available to research and finalise those repeals. Other criteria include the size and complexity of the subject, the relative importance of the proposals, the likelihood of support from interested parties and whether the subject is appropriate for inclusion in a Statute Law (Repeals) Bill.
	The Law Commission consults on all its Statute Law Repeal proposals. The consultation is with any person, organisation or Department who appears to have an interest in the proposals. Only if there is general support for the proposals are they included in the next Statute Law (Repeals) Bill. All the proposals are available on the Law Commission's website.
	Any person may suggest possible repeals by contacting the Law Commission on its website at www.lawcom.gov.uk or by writing to the chief executive at the Law Commission, Conquest House, 37-38 John Street, Theobalds Road, London WC1N 2BQ.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget is for Urgent Operational Requirements for operations in Afghanistan for  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2007-08.

Adam Ingram: There is no annual budget set for Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). Expenditure is based on the urgent, operational need to address capability requirements that arise in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which items of military equipment have been forwarded to Afghanistan in the last six months intended for use in  (a) defence of British troops and  (b) offensive operations; and what the cost was of each item.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 October 2006
	For operational security reasons, it is not policy to disclose detailed information on specific military equipment employed on particular operations. The particular information requested is not in any event held centrally and, in addition, no distinction is made between equipments used for defensive and offensive purposes.

Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Apache helicopters are  (a) available for service,  (b) undergoing maintenance and  (c) being cannibalised for repairs.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 October 2006, 39 Apache Attack Helicopters were available for service and 13 airframes were undergoing maintenance. Figures are not held centrally for the number of aircraft cannibalised. The Apache Attack Helicopter Mark 1 fleet is still in the process of being brought into front-line service.

Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact on the capability of HM forces of the loss of the Nimrod MR2 in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Clearly the loss of 14 military personnel on board the Nimrod MR2 aircraft was keenly felt—not only by RAF Kinloss, but across Defence.
	With respect to the impact on capability, a replacement aircraft was sent out to theatre on 12 September 2006.

Deterrent Patrol

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events are planned to mark the 300th deterrent patrol.

Adam Ingram: The 300th deterrent patrol is due to take place next year. No decisions have yet been taken on the way in which it might be marked.

Efficiency Savings

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what efficiency savings his Department made in 2005-06; what savings are anticipated for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; what the targets were for each of these years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has a target of £2.8 billion of annual efficiency gains by the end of the three-year Spending Review 2004 period. Details of progress towards this target are published in the MOD annual report and accounts 2005-06.

Falkland Islands

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Chinook recently removed from the Mount Pleasant airbase in the Falklands will be replaced.

Adam Ingram: The return of the CH47 to the Falklands remains under review in the context of wider Defence commitments and the higher priority currently attached to its tasking elsewhere. In the meantime, the continuing heavy lift capability and transport needs in the Falklands will be delivered by other means.

First World War Pardons

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion he has had with  (a) military historians and  (b) other groups regarding the issue of executed First World War soldier pardons as part of his review; and if he will list those whom he has consulted.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence was aware of the views of a number of historians and other interested academics when undertaking its review of this issue. We have also taken account of the views of key interested parties both within Government and more widely, notably the Governments of those countries which are successor states to colonies and dominions from which individuals were executed.

Joint Personnel Administration System

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for the proposed rollout of the Joint Personnel Administration system to all armed forces personnel.

Derek Twigg: The Joint Personnel Administration System was rolled out to the RAF on 20 March 2006. The planned dates for rollout to the Navy and Army are 23 October 2006 and March 2007 respectively.

Munitions

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what evaluation his Department has made of the results of the most recent M85 cluster munition testing in Norway.

Adam Ingram: The L20A1 (Extended Range Bomblet Shell) of which M85 is a sub-munition, was tested in Norway in September 2005. Evaluation of the results of this trial led to the conclusion that the L20A1 munition system is safe and suitable for service.

Outstanding Pay/Benefits

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individuals serving in  (a) the regular forces and  (b) the reserve forces including volunteer reservists had pay or benefits outstanding (i) for more than three months and (ii) totalling more than £500 in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have further to reduce its stake in QinetiQ.

Adam Ingram: MOD currently has no plans to dispose of its remaining shareholding in QinetiQ.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms his Department has in place for liaising with other shareholders in QinetiQ on the company's plans and prospects.

Adam Ingram: Both the MOD and the Carlyle Group have nominated non-executive directors on the QinetiQ Board, at which the company's plans and prospects are discussed. There are no other specific mechanisms for liaising with other shareholders outside the Board on the company's plans and prospects.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Government loans to QinetiQ are outstanding; and on what terms they were made.

Adam Ingram: There are no outstanding Government loans to QinetiQ.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms his Department has in place to exercise stewardship over the Government's shareholding in QinetiQ.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has a nominated non-executive director on the QinetiQ Board. The Department has also retained a special share in QinetiQ to protect the UK's defence and security interests.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial guarantees the Government has given to QinetiQ; and whether the Government has further liabilities  (a) directly and  (b) as a result of shareholder agreements.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has given no specific financial guarantees to QinetiQ. QinetiQ does, however, receive a declining percentage of the relevant portion of the MOD's research budget as single tender work. With the progressive introduction of competition into the science and technology research programme, this percentage is expected to reduce to zero by April 2008. QinetiQ also has a 25-year Long Term Partnering Agreement with MOD valued in total at some £5.6 billion, with review points every five years.
	MOD has no further liabilities beyond those agreed under the Liabilities Agreement at the initial stage of the PPP sale process in 2002. A summary of the Liabilities Agreement appear on pages 280-281 in the QinetiQ prospectus, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on 26 January 2006.

RAF Complaints Process

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1882-83W, on the RAF complaints process, if he will place in the Library a copy of the customer care charter.

Derek Twigg: The Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency Joint Personnel Administration Customer Care Charter is currently under review and it is anticipated that the new version will be delivered to both Navy and RAF personnel with their pay statements at the end of November. A copy will also be placed in the Library of the House.

Reservists

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists have been deployed in Afghanistan in each year since October 2001.

Adam Ingram: The numbers of Volunteer Reservists accepted into service to support operations in Afghanistan for 2001 to 2005, as published in the NAO Report on Reserve forces, are as follows:
	
		
			   Numbers 
			 2001 6 
			 2002 313 
			 2003 252 
			 2004 66 
			 2005 47 
		
	
	Numbers for 2006 are not yet available.

Royal Irish Regiment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the number of personnel from the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions who intend to transfer to General Service.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 12 October 2006
	As at the 10 October, 27 officers and 44 soldiers from the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment have indicated a preference to transfer to General Service terms and conditions. We remain hopeful that more Home Service personnel will transfer.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make available the mid-term review undertaken by his Department in March 2006 of the Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF) in Afghanistan; if he will ensure that all such work is readily available on the RALF website; and what assessment he has made of the progress of those Alternative Livelihood projects which have been successfully implemented by his Department in Afghanistan, broken down by province.

Hilary Benn: We are working with RALF to improve their dissemination strategy—in particular through their website. Work on this is under way. In the meantime we are able to share an internal mid-year review undertaken by DFID in August and RALF's most recent six monthly report. These have both been placed in the House of Commons Library, and we are following up with RALF to ensure that they are placed on their website.
	DFID is contributing, with other donors, to the Government of Afghanistan National Solidarity Programme (NSP) and the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) both of which are covering all provinces of Afghanistan. NSP has created 17,033 community development councils and financed 17,109 community led projects. NRAP is constructing 855km of rural roads. The multi-donor Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA), to which the UK contributes, is working in 20 provinces (Kabul, Baghlan, Kunduz, Samangan, Takhar, Bamayan, Parwan, Herat, Badakhshan, Balkh, Jozjan, Wardak, Nangahar, Laghman, Ghazni, Kapisa, Faryab, Sar-l-Pul, Logar, Kunar). It has disbursed US$81,264,560 in loans to 197,278 clients.
	DFID's bilateral programmes, are active in Badakshan and Bamyan. In the former 26,500 farmers have received agricultural inputs, 155 villages have received veterinary services including the vaccination of 61,520 animals through a DFID funded programme. In Bamyan new and innovative ways for farmers to make a living including apricot drying, poultry, honey bee keeping, tailoring and weaving, silk and cashmere wool production and the introduction of fruit tree nurseries and greenhouses for vegetable production are proving successful.
	DFID is currently working on a community and household assessment to determine the impact of the development effort (both policy influence and direct programmes) and its potential contribution to reductions in poppy cultivation. DFID has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to carry out an annual household survey over the next three years.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library the  (a) publications,  (b) conclusions and  (c) recommendations made by the Research into Alternative Livelihoods Programme concerning Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: We are working with RALF to improve their dissemination strategy—in particular through their website. Work on this is under way. In the meantime we are able to share an internal mid-year review undertaken by DFID in August and RALF's most recent six monthly report. These have both been placed in the House of Commons Library, and we are following up with RALF to ensure that they are placed on their website.

Afghanistan

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department are supporting to help farmers in Afghanistan switch from poppy production to other crops.

Hilary Benn: DFID's Livelihoods Programme, worth nearly £150 million from 2006-09, is designed to promote sustainable, rural economic development. The majority of this spending is channelled through the Afghan Government's National Programmes. This includes support to the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) and National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), both of which are now operating in all provinces in Afghanistan. NSP has created 17,033 community development councils and financed 17,109 community led projects. NRAP is constructing 855km of rural roads. The multi-donor Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA), which DFID also supports, is working in 20 provinces and has disbursed US$81 million in small loans to 197,278 clients.
	Additionally, a proportion of DFID's funding for livelihoods is targeted on improving agricultural opportunities for Afghan farmers. This includes research to help identify, test and implement new crops and technologies. Examples include improvements in health and husbandry for livestock, apricot drying, honey bee keeping, tailoring, weaving and improving the production of alternative high value crops such as saffron and wheat.
	DFID is also offering advice to ministries on how best to integrate the growth of legal livelihood opportunities.
	DFID jointly funded, in 2005-06, with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a $25million nationwide programme to increase access to seeds and fertilisers for over 500,000 farmers for alternative crops.

Hampton Review

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what input  (a) his Department and  (b) (i) agencies and (ii) non-departmental public bodies had into the Hampton Review and its report Reducing administrative burdens: effective inspection and enforcement.

Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 280W.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Post Deliveries

Mike Hancock: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent research the Commission has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the length of time it takes post to reach the Palace of Westminster following its receipt at Nine Elms sorting office; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The House does not have access to records of when mail is received at Nine Elms. The House authorities do monitor the two contracts with regard to mail screening and internal mail delivery. Both of these contracts have key performance indicators. These show that all of the mail collected from Nine Elms on a given day is delivered within the Palace of Westminster by 2 pm that day, with over 60 per cent. of the day's mail delivered within the Palace by the 8 am delivery and over 75 per cent. by the 10 am delivery. Regular checks are made of the processes involved. A monitoring group made up of Officers from both Houses meets monthly to consider the performance against the contracts and the indicators have been met consistently in recent months following changes made by both contractors during the first full year of the new contracts. These changes have been aimed at maximising the volume of mail in the parliamentary deliveries in the early part of the day.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been recovered under the Confiscation of Criminal Assets Act 2003 (i) in total and (ii) in each police authority area, listed in descending order by amount recovered in each year since its introduction; and how much is in the process of being recovered.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the total amount of criminal assets recovered over the last three years is set out in table 1. Information on the value of cash forfeiture orders and confiscation orders obtained in each police authority area over the last three years under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation is set out in table 2. Confiscation orders are not enforced by police forces but by HM Courts Service and other enforcement authorities. Orders made in one year may be enforced in future years. The amounts in the process of recovery depend on a number of factors including appeal rights and time to pay considerations.
	
		
			  Table 1: Recovered criminal assets (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) 
			   Total recovered (£ million) 
			 2003-04 54.5 
			 2004-05 84.4 
			 2005-06 96.5 
			 Total 235.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Total value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by police forces in England and Wales 2003-04 
			  Force  £ 
			 Metropolitan Police Service 5,950,410.55 
			 Bedfordshire Police 3,392,094.53 
			 West Yorkshire Police 2,874,164.65 
			 Greater Manchester Police 2,798,966.37 
			 Surrey Police 1,480,550.62 
			 Merseyside Police 1,217,852.89 
			 Kent Police 1,210,503.91 
			 City of London Police 1,200,282.09 
			 Thames Valley Police 1,182,132.20 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 1,180,461.28 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 1,087,417.48 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 930,442.19 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 929,368.00 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 875,434.60 
			 Humberside Police 826,661.75 
			 West Midlands Police 819,117.30 
			 South Yorkshire Police 784,579.88 
			 Northumbria Police 691,770.20 
			 Sussex Police 652,221.26 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 594,347.00 
			 Northamptonshire Police 556,066.08 
			 Staffordshire Police 373,784.34 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 298,447.77 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 278,679.84 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 250,263.36 
			 Durham Constabulary 235,600.50 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary 192,616.60 
			 British Transport Police 156,471.60 
			 Dorset Police 147,532.10 
			 Lincolnshire Police 143,411.38 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 137,649.75 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 121,750.34 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 120,953.30 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 120,917.41 
			 North Wales Police 89,522.03 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 89,325.89 
			 Warwickshire Police 83,116.50 
			 South Wales Police 75,637.44 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 71,140.10 
			 Gwent Police 52,140.42 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 39,848.45 
			 Cleveland Police 19,140.04 
			 North Yorkshire Police 0.00 
			 Essex Police 0.00 
			 Total 34,332,793.99

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 4 September from the hon. Member for Walsall, North in relation to his constituent's case ref: A 1102564.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 October 2006
	I wrote to the hon. Member for Walsall, North on 9 October 2006.

Drugs (Testing)

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government policy is on testing people for illegal drug use who have been arrested on suspicion of other crimes; and whether the powers of police forces vary between different areas in this regard.

Vernon Coaker: There is a well evidenced link between some offences, particularly those connected with acquisitive crime, and Class A drug misuse. It is Government policy to break that link and to move offenders out of crime and into drug treatment.
	Individuals arrested or charged with committing a range of offences (referred to as "trigger" offences) in areas with high levels of acquisitive crime are tested for Class A drugs as part of the Government's Drug Interventions Programme (DIP). Trigger offences include acquisitive crime offences.
	Drug testing is one of a number of interventions aimed at identifying drug misusing offenders and persuading them to engage in drug treatment and support. Intensive elements of the programme, which include drug testing, are currently operational in 23 police force areas and 175 custody suites across England and Wales. Some 17,000 drug tests are conducted each month as part of the programme.

Immigration

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the background papers which led to his estimate of between 5,000 to 13,000 immigrants from the EU accession countries coming to the UK in 2004.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 25 July 2006
	There was no such estimate produced by either Ministers or officials from the Department prior to the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004.
	Christian Dustmann, et al from University College London produced a report entitled "The impact of EU enlargement on migrations flows" which was commissioned by the Home Office and published in June 2003. It contained estimates of the numbers of people expected to migrate to the UK from the new member states in the years following enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004. These are independent estimates and not Home Office figures.
	The report itself is available from the Department's Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr 2503.pdf.

Income Support

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what total financial support the Government have provided to families in the lowest income decile in each of the last 20 years.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 16 October 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question to Her Majesty's Government, what total financial support the Government has provided to families in the lowest income decile in each of the last 20 years. (93665)
	Estimates of the financial support provided to households through cash benefits are based on the ONS analyses "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income" which is published annually. The latest analysis for 2004-05 was published on the National Statistics website on 12 May 2006 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis is based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey, which is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK. The income decile groups used in this analysis are based on a ranking of households by equivalised disposable income—a widely used proxy for standard of living.
	The table below shows the average receipts of cash benefits by households in the bottom income decile. Figures have been provided back to 1987, the earliest year for which comparable figures are available. They are based on the figures which have appeared annually in the taxes and benefits analysis, but have been adjusted to 2004-05 prices using the all items retail prices index. Receipts of cash benefits have also been shown as a percentage of average gross household income for households in the bottom income decile.
	There has been some cyclical variation in receipts of cash benefits by this group of households, although there is no clear long term trend. However cash benefits constitute a declining proportion of gross income for these households. This is because of trend increases in real incomes from other sources such as wages and salaries and occupational pensions.
	Cash benefits include contributory benefits such as the state retirement pension, and incapacity benefit, as well as non-contributory benefits such as income support, child benefit, housing benefit, and disability living allowance. Tax credits are only partially included since for households paying some income tax, the tax credits are initially treated as negative tax, rather than a benefit. Only after the tax credit has eliminated any income tax liability, is any further tax credit receipt treated as a benefit.
	It should be remembered that these results are based on a sample survey and so there is some uncertainty surrounding the estimates for any one year. The bottom income decile is likely to contain some households who have low income but high wealth, and so can sustain a standard of living higher than that which would be suggested by their income alone.
	
		
			  Average receipt of cash benefits and gross income of households in the bottom income decile( 1) 
			  United Kingdom 
			   Receipt of cash benefits (£ per year, 2004-05 prices( 2) )  Gross household income (£ per year, 2004-05( 2) )  Cash benefits as a percentage of gross household income 
			 1987 5,600 7,300 76 
			 1988 5.300 6,900 77 
			 1989 5,100 6,700 76 
			 1990 5,000 6,800 74 
			 1991 5,100 6,700 76 
			 1992 5,200 7,300 72 
			 1993 5,600 7,500 74 
			 1994-95 5,500 7,500 74 
			 1995-96 5,700 8,200 69 
			 1996-97 5,100 7,400 69 
			 1997-98 5,100 7,200 71 
			 1998-99 4,900 7,300 67 
			 1999-2000 4,800 7,100 68 
			 2000-01 5,100 7,400 69 
			 2001-02 4,900 7,600 64 
			 2002-03 5,100 8,000 64 
			 2003-04 5,200 7,900 66 
			 2004-05 5,400 8,400 65 
			 (1) Households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. (2) Adjusted to 2004-05 prices using the all items Retail Prices Index.  Note: Numbers in the first two columns are rounded to the nearest hundred and so percentages calculated from them may not equal those in column three.  Source:  Expenditure and Food Survey (the Family Expenditure Survey before 2001-02).

Prisons

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are for Standford Hill Prison to take Category C prisoners.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 16 October 2006
	No decision has been made to increase the security categorisation of HMP Standford Hill.
	The National Offender Management Service has developed long-term strategic plans to manage prison population pressures. These include ensuring we can use the prison estate as flexibly as possible, and in support of this a planning application for additional security at HMP Standford Hill was submitted. This would provide the option of holding prisoners at this establishment in closed conditions.

Visas

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from each of the EU accession countries registered for UK work visas in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Worker Registration Scheme (WRS), is not a scheme for issuing work visas, but a method of monitoring the impact on the UK economy of workers from eight accession states which joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. Individuals must register within one month of starting work and both the worker and employer receive a Worker Registration Scheme Certificate.
	The Accession Monitoring Report is the main source of statistical data on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). The latest report covers the period May 2004 to June 2006 and is available on the Home Office website at: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/reports /accession_monitoring_report
	
		
			  Nationality of applicants approved by quarter applied. July 2005 to June 2006 
			   Number of applicants 
			   Q3 2005  Q4 2005  Q1 2006  Q2 2006  Total 
			 Czech Rep 2,860 2,265 1,850 1,885 8,860 
			 Estonia 600 530 390 305 1,825 
			 Hungary 1,670 1,665 1,425 1,475 6,235 
			 Latvia 3,290 2,470 2,535 2,575 10,870 
			 Lithuania 5,720 4,485 4,210 4,075 18,490 
			 Poland 38,310 32,935 31,720 34,525 137,490 
			 Slovakia 6,375 5,045 4,275 4,970 20,665 
			 Slovenia 35 55 55 35 180 
			 Total 58,860 49,450 46,465 49,850 204,625 
			  Note: This table shows applicants approved rather than the total number of applications made. The figures are for initial applications only (not multiple applications, where an individual is doing more than one job simultaneously, nor re-registrations, where an individual has changed employers). All figures are rounded to the nearest five. Because of rounding, totals may not sum.

HEALTH

A and E

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has produced on the  (a) maximum or optimal geographical area and  (b) maximum or optimal population that a local accident and emergency department should cover.

Rosie Winterton: It is a matter for the local national health service to ensure that there is appropriate provision of urgent and emergency services that are responsive to people's needs. The Department launched on 4 October a discussion on the "Direction of Travel for urgent care" and aims to produce an urgent and emergency care strategy in the first half of 2007.

Birmingham Women's Hospital

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the procedures for collecting revenue from coroners' referrals to the pathology unit of Birmingham Women's hospital.

Rosie Winterton: It is for Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust to make assessments on procedures for collecting revenue from coroners' referrals to the pathology unit of Birmingham Women's hospital.

Bowel Cancer Screening

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in rolling out the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Rosie Winterton: Good progress has been made in rolling out the national bowel cancer screening programme.
	The programme consists of five programme hubs across England which will invite men and women to participate in the screening programme, send out the faecal occult blood (FOB) testing kits, analyse the returned kits and send out results. Ninety to 100 local screening centres will provide endoscopy services for the 2 per cent. of men and women who have a positive FOB test result.
	The five hubs have been confirmed as:
	Rugby—West Midlands and the North West—began operations in July 2006;
	Guildford—Southern—began operations in September 2006;
	St. Mark's—London—begins operations in October 2006;
	Gateshead—North East; and
	Nottingham—Eastern.
	All five hubs will be operational by March 2007.
	In addition to the hubs, the first six local screening centres have now been confirmed. Wolverhampton and Norwich began sending out invitations in July 2006, and South Devon and Liverpool began sending out invitations in September 2006. St. Mark's London is due to begin sending out invitations in October 2006, with St. George's London following in November 2006. The other eight sites due to become local screening centres in wave one of the programme, that is 2006-07, will be confirmed as soon as possible, when they have satisfied quality and capacity criteria.
	We will be writing to the new strategic health authorities (SHAs) shortly for them to bid for their local endoscopy units to become local screening centres as part of Wave two of the programme in 2007-08. It is up to SHAs to decide where local screening centres should be located for the benefit of their own populations.
	The bowel cancer screening programme is an ambitious project, and one of the first of its kind in Europe. When fully implemented, it will detect around 3,000 bowel cancers every year. We are committed to implementing this important programme.

Call Handlers

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of additional call handlers in England required to maintain 24/7 telephone access to local health services, as stated in her Department's Influenza Pandemic Contingency Planning: "Operational Guidance on the provision of healthcare in a community setting in England", draft V8 of July; whether she expects to remunerate these call handlers; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: We are currently in the process of updating the "Operational Guidance on the Provision of Healthcare in a Community Setting in England", including the proposals for telephone operators in light of comments received on the draft.
	In view of this further work, we will not be in a position to estimate the number of operators needed until we have defined the model of service and the nature of the telephone system(s) required.

Cancer Referrals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) general practitioner urgent referrals and  (b) other referrals there have been for cancer treatment in each month since June 2005.

Rosie Winterton: Data are not collected centrally on routine referrals where the patient is subsequently diagnosed with cancer. Data are collected on urgent suspected cancer referrals to monitor performance of the two week out-patient waiting time standard. Data are published quarterly and the number of referrals is shown as follows.
	
		
			  Quarter  Number of urgent referrals 
			  2005  
			 July to September 137,471 
			 October to December 133,328 
			   
			  2006  
			 January to March 134,828 
			 April to June 145,460

Cannabis User Referrals

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change in the number of cannabis users' referrals to rehabilitation schemes was between 2002 and 2005.

Caroline Flint: The percentage change in the number of people entering drug treatment between 2003-04, the first year for which data are available, and 2005-06, the latest data, where cannabis has been identified as the primary substance of misuse is an increase of 117 per cent.
	As surveys on drug use amongst young people indicate that cannabis use among young people has remained stable over the past few years, the increased numbers in drug treatment as a result of cannabis use are almost certainly as a result of increased availability of treatment.

Cannabis User Referrals

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many under-16 cannabis users entered a rehabilitation programme in each year between 2002 and 2005.

Caroline Flint: The numbers of under-16s who have entered drug treatment, where cannabis has been identified as the primary substance of misuse for years since 2003-04, the first year for which data are available are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 2003-04 2,963 
			 2004-05 4,736 
			 2005-06 7,559

Child Obesity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards meeting the public services agreement target of July 2004 that by 2010 the increase in obesity among children aged under 11 years will be halted.

Caroline Flint: The Department will track progress against the public service agreement (PSA) target on childhood obesity by using the body mass index trend data from the Health Survey for England. The baseline figure is 14.9 per cent. which is the weighted average for the three year period 2002-04. Progress against the target will be formally assessed once data from 2005-07 are aggregated.
	The Government have a range of ongoing initiatives to address the rising levels of childhood obesity. This includes raising awareness through the social marketing campaign aimed at families, targeting of existing universal programmes, such as the school sports strategy, healthy schools, and healthy start. In addition, we will shortly publish the national data from 2005-06 exercise to weigh and measure primary school children. These data will enable us to better performance manage and target local areas as part of our PSA delivery strategy.

Clostridium Difficile

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the change since December 2005 in the proportion of NHS hospital trusts that routinely isolate cases of  Clostridium difficile infection.

Andy Burnham: We do not collect this information centrally but national guidance recommends the isolation of patients where feasible. In addition, "The Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections" published in October 2006 requires national health service bodies to have a policy on  Clostridium difficile infection that makes provision for isolation of infected patients and cohort nursing.

Dentists

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the figure of 66 per cent. of capital expenditure for dentists wholly or mainly committed to the NHS was arrived at as the proposed maximum subsidy in Gateway 6844.

Rosie Winterton: The guidance given to the national health service on 12 July 2006 about the £100 million capital funding programme for primary care NHS dentistry did not propose a maximum NHS subsidy for capital investments made by dental practices. Rather, it gave illustrative examples of the contributions that primary care trusts (PCTs) might choose to make to capital investments made by dental practices, expressed as a percentage of the total cost of the investment.
	The example given for practices wholly or mainly committed to the NHS was 66 per cent. of expenditure, but PCTs are free to decide for themselves locally what proportion is appropriate in each case. Most practices that provide primary dental services are independent contractors, and their NHS contract payments—which are based on the recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Pay Review Body—already cover not only the dentists' net income but also the expenses incurred in providing NHS dental services. Additional grants to practices to improve facilities, and which may enhance the practice assets, are often made on the basis of a shared investment between the PCT and the contractor.

Diagnostic Tests

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2087W, on diagnostic tests treatment, in which month of next year she expects full services to begin being provided; where she expects the first scheme to begin providing services to be situated; in which seven regions diagnostic schemes will operate; and which local National Health Service needs are better met by delaying the commencement date from October.

Andy Burnham: The diagnostic schemes across all strategic health authority areas (SHA) will commence on or before 1 April 2007. Currently each SHA and local primary care trusts are confirming the sites at which they require the services to be delivered.
	Commencement in April 2007 has allowed local heath communities to further refine their requirements for the new services and target the activity at local service priorities.

Foundation Hospitals

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase the number of foundation hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: There are already 49 national health service foundation trusts, the intention is that all acute and mental health trusts will be able to apply for foundation trust status at the earliest opportunity. We are establishing a time frame for when remaining acute and mental health trusts can become foundation trusts and the actions needed to secure a successful application.

Foundation Hospitals

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her plans to provide for an insolvency regime in the event of foundation hospital trusts being wound up.

Andy Burnham: The Government expect to make regulations on an insolvency regime for national health service foundation trusts in 2007.

Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of staff and infrastructure at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust that will be surplus to requirements following the move of Kingston Hospital NHS Trust patients to the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, broken down by  (a) clinical staff,  (b) nursing staff,  (c) scientific and technical staff,  (d) diagnostic equipment,  (e) treatment equipment and  (f) other.

Rosie Winterton: This is a local matter for the local national health service. The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Charges

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department has to implement the recommendations of the Health Select Committee's report into health charges and in particular prescription charges.

Andy Burnham: The Department's response to the Health Committee's report on national health service charges has been laid before Parliament today.

Heroin Addicts

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many heroin addicts were registered in the methadone programme in each year between 2002 and 2005;
	(2)  how many heroin addicts entered the methadone programme in each year between 2002 and 2005.

Caroline Flint: There is no formal requirement for heroin users to register their addiction.
	Data collected on substitute prescribing do not differentiate between methadone and buprenophine.
	From 2003-04 onwards, the first year for which these data are available, the number of clients in England in receipt of substitute prescribing, where heroin has been identified as the primary drug of misuse is as follow:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 44,159 
			 2004-05 69,782 
			 2005-06 84,583

HIV

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of HIV were diagnosed in Beverley and Holderness in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not available in the format required. The following table gives the figures for the East Riding of Yorkshire.
	
		
			  New HIV diagnoses for adults aged 15 or above for East Riding of Yorkshire 
			   Number 
			 1997 <10 
			 1998 11 
			 1999 <10 
			 2000 <10 
			 2001 12 
			 2002 13 
			 2003 27 
			 2004 34 
			 2005 31 
			 Total 1997 to 2005 148 
			  Notes: 1. Data includes individuals who have an existing infection as well as those who have a newly acquired infection. 2. Data may include duplicates for the same individual where records with different information could not be reconciled. 3. Data is based on reports received by the end of June 2006 and numbers may rise as further reports are received, particularly true for more recent years.  Source: Health Protection Agency.

Hospitals (Helicopter Access)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals have a helicopter landing pad available for use by air ambulances; and what steps are being taken to increase the number of hospitals with that facility.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect these data centrally. Decisions on whether to install or enhance landing facilities for helicopters are a matter for individual national health service trusts.

Lymphogranuloma Venereum

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum was in the past four years, broken down by primary care trust area.

Caroline Flint: Incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is rare but since 2003 a series of outbreaks across Europe have been reported. In response, in October 2004 the Health Protection Agency launched an initiative to improve LGV surveillance and awareness in the United Kingdom.
	To date, there have been a total of 331 cases in England. These have been reported by genitourinary clinic of attendance and not primary care trust of residence, as this data is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), by primary care trusts (PCT) in England, 2004-05 
			  Primary care trust  2004 rates  2005 rates 
			 Brighton and Hove City (1)— 14.69 
			 Camden 11.97 24.88 
			 City and Hackney (1)— 2.78 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (1)— 26.08 
			 Lambeth 4.53 9.32 
			 Southwark (1)— 5.11 
			 Tower Hamlets (1)— 2.39 
			 Westminster (1)— 5.65 
			 (1 )Fewer than five cases of LGV seen annually.  Note: 1. Incidence rate is per 100,000 population. 2. Rates are by PCT areas of the GUM clinic of attendance.  Source: Enhanced surveillance of LGV, ONS mid-year population estimates. 
		
	
	
		
			  Incidence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), by strategic health authority (SHA) in England, 2004-05 
			  Strategic health authority  2004 rates  2005 rates 
			 North West London (1)— 3.49 
			 North Central London 1.14 4.40 
			 North East London (1)— 0.78 
			 South East London 0.33 2.58 
			 South West London (1)— 0.45 
			 Greater Manchester (1)— 0.35 
			 Surrey and Sussex (1)— 1.47 
			 (1 )Fewer than five cases of LGV seen annually.  Note: 1. Incidence rate is per 100,000 population. 2. Rates are by SHA areas of the GUM clinic of attendance.  Source: Enhanced surveillance of LGV, ONS mid-year population estimates.

Myalgic Encephalopathy

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government are undertaking to ensure that adequate research is undertaken into the  (a) causes and  (b) treatment of myalgic encephalopathy.

Andy Burnham: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The MRC does not normally allocate funds to particular topics; research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. When appropriate, high quality research in particular areas of strategic importance may be given priority in competition for funds, but research excellence and importance to health continues to be the primary considerations in funding decisions.
	The MRC produced a research strategy on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in May 2003. The purpose of the strategy is to enable researchers to develop research proposals on all aspects of this illness. It was developed by an independent research advisory group in response to a request from the Chief Medical Officer, and was informed by contributions from patients, carers, charities, patient groups, researchers and clinicians via a consultation exercise.

NHS Staff Pay Rises

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of the £4.6 billion allocated to the NHS in 2006-07 which will be spent on pay rises for staff.

Rosie Winterton: The amount of funding to be allocated to the national health service in 2006-07 and 2007-08 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ billion 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 Total primary care trust allocations 64.3 70.4 
			 Increase on previous year 5.4 6.0 
		
	
	In 2006-07 out of the additional £5.4 billion allocation to the NHS, it is estimated that approximately 31 per cent. will be spent on pay rises.

Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations her Department has received on specialist nurse recruitment and retention in the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Ministers and officials regularly receive correspondence about specialist nurses. There have also been two parliamentary questions.
	It is for local managers to determine skill mix within the nursing work force including specialist nurses. The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing, and it is for local trusts to decide how to use those skills appropriately.

Patient Transport Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on patient safety of Parkwood Healthcare providing non-emergency patient transport services to the University of North Staffordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: This is a local matter which is being resolved by the University Hospital North Staffordshire Trust and other local national health service organisations.
	The trust states that although it recognises there have been some difficulties in the initial stages of the new contract with Parkwood Healthcare, these are being resolved and there have been significant improvements over recent weeks. I am informed that the implementation of weekly monitoring of the new arrangements continues.

Patients Forums

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's policy is on responding to requests for information from patients' forums.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's policy in responding to requests for information from patient forums is in accordance with the service and communication guidelines for dealing with all correspondence; that is, to respond to correspondence within 20 working days.

Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2006,  Official Report, columns 1325W-27W, on the private finance initiative, what the reasons are for the differences between the capital values listed in the answer and those in her Department's press release of 18 August 2006, entitled "Go-ahead for Billion Pound-plus Wave of New NHS Hospitals", for the schemes proposed by  (a) the University Hospitals of North Staffordshire NHS Trust,  (b) the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust,  (c) Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust,  (d) Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust,  (e) Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust and  (f) South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Andy Burnham: The principal reason for any change to the capital values of the schemes at the University Hospitals of North Staffordshire National Health Service Trust, the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust and the South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust was that the review of private finance initiative (PFI) schemes led the trusts concerned to reconsider how their schemes could best be structured in order to deliver services in the most cost-effective way and ensure their long-term viability. A key part of this work was an assessment of the capacity assumptions to ascertain if these were realistic and properly suited to the needs of the local health economy; and a review of the estate in terms of current and planned building stock to ensure optimal use.
	In consequence all the schemes, with the exception of those at the Salford Royal NHS Trust and the Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust, underwent structural changes, details of which have been published and are available locally.
	All the figures quoted are on a like-for-like basis except those given in relation to Salford Royal NHS Trust, Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The difference between the capital values given for the schemes at Salford Royal NHS Trust, and Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust is because the capital values given in the August press release were at 2004-05 prices, and those given in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Wavertree (Jane Kennedy) on the 8 February,  Official Report, columns 1325-27W, were at final construction outturn prices.
	The February figure for the scheme at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was the public sector comparator cost at preferred bidder stage which equated to a PFI outturn cost of £761 million. In addition building cost inflation and retail price index increases for the two years slippage in forecast financial close date took the cost to £911 million prior to the review commencing.

Private Finance Initiative

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the results of the checks made on the six hospital private finance initiative schemes announced on 19 August to ensure that each scheme offers value for money and is locally affordable.

Andy Burnham: The six schemes that were announced on 19 August had been subjected to an in-depth review to ensure that they were configured in the most financially cost effective way possible; and that they were financially sustainable over the long-term. The review assessed each scheme on an individual basis and considered their financial viability, from the perspective both of their size and the financial position of the trusts concerned. In addition the review also focused on the capacity assumptions made by each trust in order to ascertain if these were realistic and properly suited to the needs of the local health economy.
	Where it was felt that a scheme was neither configured in the most cost effective way or financially sustainable in the long-term, changes to the scheme that would improve its affordability and cost-effectiveness were discussed and worked through with the trust. Information on these changes has been published and is available locally from the trusts concerned. Before decisions were approved by Ministers all the local health economies confirmed that the schemes remained value for money and affordable.

Private Finance Initiative

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the termination costs were before and after the refinancing of private finance initiative hospitals.

Andy Burnham: The compensation payable to the contractor on termination in a private finance initiative contract varies from scheme to scheme both before and after a refinancing depending on the amount and term of the senior debt and the reason for the termination. The amount payable per year under each termination scenario also differs. In the health sector there have been refinancings for the PFI schemes at:
	Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust;
	Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust;
	Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust;
	Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust; and
	Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust.
	Details on each refinancing are available locally.

Private Finance Initiative

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the market testing of private finance initiative projects contracted by NHS trusts.

Andy Burnham: All private finance initiative (PFI) contracts in England contain a clause which requires all 'soft' facilities management services, such as catering, cleaning, laundry services etc., to be market tested at regular intervals or explicitly identifies another means of ensuring that value for money is maintained throughout the life of the contract; this normally involves a benchmarking exercise. A joint Department of Health and private sector best practice guidance document was issued in July this year to assist trusts in conducting these value for money exercises.
	No details are held centrally on the progress of these exercises at individual PFI schemes. To collect this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Private Finance Initiative

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress of the Private Finance Initiative scheme at Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust; whether an advert for the scheme has been placed in the Official Journal of the European Union; and when she expects work to commence on site.

Andy Burnham: There are two private finance initiative schemes being taken forward at Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust.
	The outline business case for a new surgical centre, capital cost approximately £80 million, is being developed and is expected to be submitted to the Department for approval later in the year. The scheme has not yet placed a tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). It is too early to estimate likely dates for financial close and start on site.
	The full business case for the £18 million new cancer centre has received conditional approval from the local strategic health authority. The tender notice was placed in OJEU some time ago. Subject to resolving some final planning issues the scheme can proceed to financial close and start construction on site; this is expected in December.

Physiotherapists

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) data and  (b) other factors underlay the target set out in the NHS plan of February 2001 to increase the number of physiotherapists working in the NHS in England by 59 per cent. by 2009.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Plan target was for an increase of 6,500 therapists to improve services to patients. This has been achieved.

Regulatory Bodies

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what appraisal mechanisms lay members on professional regulatory bodies are subject to; and how their performance is assessed.

Andy Burnham: The Appointments Commission, which appoints lay members to regulatory bodies, requires appraisal systems to be in place. Details of these systems are a matter for the regulatory bodies themselves.

Sight Loss

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to improve support for those who have experienced sight loss.

Rosie Winterton: Low vision aids are available free on loan to any person requiring them. The hospital eye service assesses the needs of the individual and provides any necessary low vision aids. Social services departments also have responsibility for assessing the needs of individuals who request help due to problems with their vision.
	The eye care services steering group, which the Department established in 2002, identified low vision as an area for further development. A care pathway for low vision services has been published and a number of pilots are currently testing the pathway. The model pathways are designed to improve integration of eye care services across primary and secondary care and social services. Learning from the pilots and their developing evidence-base will be shared with the national health service to support wider implementation.
	The government-funded integrating community equipment services (ICES) project was designed to improve equipment services by integrating the previously separate NHS and social services equipment services. The ICES team completed their work on integration in March 2005 and it is now the responsibility of local social care and health service providers to determine how best to provide services to reflect local needs and priorities.
	On 22 June 2006, at the Three Sector Summit, the Government announced that the Department will undertake a radical review of community equipment, 'Transforming Community Equipment Services Project—helping to make independence a reality', with the objective of developing a new model of service delivery. The review will investigate how the provision of community equipment across England could be opened to greater contestability.

Specialist Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of specialist nurses in case management within the NHS and Social Care Conditions Model.

Rosie Winterton: Specialist nurses provide an important contribution to the care of people with long-term conditions and are highly valued by patients for the expert support and care they give to them and their families. They also have a significant role in providing expert advice to their generalist colleagues who care for people with multiple complex long-term conditions.
	It is for local trusts to determine skill mix within the nursing work force including specialist nurses. The Government have supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing, and it is for the local trusts to deploy specialist nurses in accordance with their local needs.

Trust Surpluses

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2006,  Official Report, column 2178W, on trust surpluses, what the incentives offered by the NHS Bank were.

Andy Burnham: The strategic health authority (SHA) incentive scheme was introduced in September 2005 in consultation with the 28 SHAs.
	The aim of the scheme was to reward those organisations that have generated a surplus and encourage good financial management in 2005-06, by offering a variable reward on any surpluses offered up with the rate depending on the timing of surplus declarations.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Databases (Security Breaches)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by her Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external sources in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned.

Patrick McFadden: There have been no confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by the Cabinet Office in the last five years.

Voluntary/Community Sector

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether she plans to revise the regulations affecting the voluntary and community sector.

Edward Miliband: The Government are keen to minimise the burden of regulations on the voluntary and community sector. The Charities Bill, which is due for Report stage in this parliamentary session, will make a number of deregulatory changes to charity law and regulation. Furthermore, the Government will outline their approach to reducing regulatory burdens for the sector in their response to the Better Regulation Task Force Report 'Better regulation for Civil Society'. This will be published shortly.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the level of non-economic incentives for farmers to grow poppies in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Economic factors are the main incentive for farmers to grow poppy. Other factors such as insecurity and weak governance also play a role. This year in Helmand, the Taleban encouraged farmers to grow opium poppy. There are some reports of the Taleban intimidating farmers who do not grow poppy and offering protection from eradication to those who do. But there is no evidence to suggest that these actions had a significant impact on cultivation levels. A broader variety of factors play into farmers' decisions to grow poppy. This year, in areas of Afghanistan where access to governance, security and development has improved, reductions achieved in 2005 have been sustained and in some cases improved upon.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for the UK of the record opium crop in Helmand in 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The increase this year in the opium crop from Helmand and other southern provinces is worrying. It reflects the very difficult security situation and limited law enforcement capability in Afghanistan. We are supporting the Afghan Government to implement their National Drug Control Strategy. Progress is being made but sustainable drug elimination strategies take time. In areas of Afghanistan where access to governance, security and development has improved, reductions in opium poppy cultivation achieved in 2005 have been sustained and in some cases improved upon.
	The effect of this year's increase in supplies of heroin to the UK is uncertain. Previous large fluctuations in the size of the opium crop in Afghanistan have led to no appreciable change in supply as measured by the UK average street price.

Afghanistan

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been prosecuted for involvement in the opium trade in Afghanistan over the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: Under Afghanistan's Counter Narcotics (CN) law of December 2005, prosecutions involving under 2kg of heroin or under 10kg of opium are heard by local municipal courts. The Afghans do not keep a central record of municipal prosecutions and as such records can be recovered only at disproportionate cost. The more serious cases, which involve amounts in excess of 2kg of heroin or 10kg of opium, are heard by the CN Tribunal in Kabul. By the end of September 2006, the CN Criminal Justice Task Force had arrested over 690 individuals and completed over 260 cases. This has so far resulted in over 280 convictions.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the  (a) Wolesi Jirga and  (b) Meshrano Jirga in Afghanistan is female.

Kim Howells: There are 87 women in the 351 member National Assembly, inaugurated in December 2005. 27 per cent. of the members of the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) are women and 19 per cent. are in the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House).

British Citizenship

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the number of holders of passports identifying them as British subjects who could obtain British citizenship on application.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is unable to estimate the number of holders of British Subject passports who are eligible to register as British Citizens. We do not keep records of how many people hold British Subject passports or how many of those passport holders are eligible to register as British Citizens.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the gas agreement between Daewoo International and the Government of Burma upon  (a) human rights,  (b) political freedom and  (c) the use of slave labour in Burma.

Ian McCartney: We do not have specific details of any agreements between the Government of Burma and Daewoo International and cannot, therefore, make an assessment of their impact. However, we hope that any foreign company operating in Burma would comply with international standards on the use of labour and on human rights.

Colombia

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations her Department has made to the Embassy of Colombia on the concerns of British trade unions over human rights in that country; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what policy advice her Department has offered the Embassy of Colombia related to the concerns of British trade unions over human rights in that country; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: We have wide-ranging discussions with the Colombian government, including with the embassy in London, on human rights issues which take into account concerns raised by British trade unions and interlocutors from other non-governmental organisations, as well as their Colombian counterparts. Colombia is regularly raised at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)/Trades Union Congress Advisory Council which meets three times a year, and in other ad hoc exchanges between the FCO and British unions. We particularly welcome the joint agreement between the Colombian Government, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Colombian trade unions in June 2006 to establish a permanent ILO presence in Colombia. We encourage the Colombian government to ensure that the ILO has an effective presence in Colombia.
	We consistently urge the Colombian government to support and protect the role of trade unions in Colombia. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised our concerns with the Colombian government when he visited Colombia last month, and also met with a group of Colombian trade unionists to hear at first hand the issues they face, having met them earlier this year in London. Both the FCO and the Department for International Development have funded projects in support of trade unions in Colombia.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 18 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ufuoma Marlelo.

Margaret Beckett: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 18 July. I apologise for the delay in responding to this written question.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 22 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Asma Zulfiqar, transferred from the Home Office.

Margaret Beckett: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 17 July. I apologise for the delay in responding to this written question.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of food aid likely to be supplied to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by the Republic of Korea in the next three years.

Ian McCartney: In recent years South Korea has provided 500,000 tonnes of rice to North Korea, but suspended its regular humanitarian assistance in response to the July missile tests. As a further measure in response to the 9 October nuclear test, Seoul has also halted flood-related assistance, which so far has included a further 90,000 tons of rice. We have expressed our concern to the South Koreans about using humanitarian aid as political leverage, but do not know their future intentions for the supply of food aid to North Korea.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the  (a) human rights situation,  (b) security situation and  (c) likelihood of a peaceful presidential election later in 2006 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ian McCartney: The human rights situation across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains poor. Civilians, particularly in eastern DRC, continue to suffer abuses committed by members of the Congolese armed forces and militia groups. Harassment of civilians for political reasons has recently increased. The security situation in the DRC remains fragile, especially in the east, north east and Kinshasa.
	We expect the second round of elections to be tense and the probability of violence can not be excluded. This is why we have deployed an EU force to support the UN mission during the entire election period.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much her Department has spent on taxis in the last 12 months.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has two contracts with taxi/minicab firms to provide a 24-hour taxi service for staff in London, and to provide a taxi service between Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park, and taxi services for Hanslope Park-based staff for home to office and airport journeys. The estimated annual value of these two contracts was £200,000 and £120,000 respectively.
	Officers at home and overseas also make ad hoc taxi journeys in the course of their official duties. The FCO does not record expenditure on travel by taxi in the United Kingdom or overseas separately from travel on other forms of surface transport. Figures for the total expenditure on taxi fares could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU Member States (Entry Refusals)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many holders of passports identifying them as British subjects have been refused entry to  (a) Romania,  (b) Bulgaria and  (c) each current member state of the European Union in each of the last three years.

Geoff Hoon: We are unable to answer this question as our Embassies in Bucharest and Sofia do not keep records of the number of British subjects refused entry into their respective countries. For the final part of the hon. Member's question, officials would also need to contact the 25 EU member states and this would incur disproportionate cost.

International Protection of Children

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Trilateral Agreement reached between the UK, Spain and Gibraltar on 18 September will enable the 1996 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Children to be ratified by EU member states; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Trilateral Agreement reached in Cordoba on 18 September announced a historic set of measures which will deliver real, practical benefits to the people of Gibraltar as well as those in the Campo de Gibraltar. The arrangements cover Gibraltar's airport, telecommunications, traffic flows as well as a settlement to the long running issue of pensions paid to Spanish workers affected by the 1969 border closure.
	The ratification of the 1996 Hague Convention on the International Protection of Children is currently blocked because Spain has questioned the arrangements for communications under this convention with competent authorities in Gibraltar.
	There have been a number of attempts to resolve this problem as well as the broader issue of postboxing (whereby formal communications between Gibraltar competent authorities and their EU/European Economic Association/European Free Trade Association counterparts under EU instruments, take place via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London). It was discussed as part of the Trilateral process and while we were unable to reach agreement by 18 September all sides are committed to finding a solution. Negotiations are consequently at an advanced stage and we hope that a final agreement will be reached over the next month.

Iran

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made in the case of Reza Montazamic and Fereshteh Dibaj, recently arrested by the authorities in Iran; and what support her Department is making available to support the Christian, Jewish and Baha'i communities in that country.

Geoff Hoon: We remain deeply concerned about the situation of religious minorities in Iran and receive numerous reports of discrimination against those wishing to practise minority faiths. Reza Montazamic and his wife Fereshteh Dibaj were arrested in Iran on 26 September and subsequently released on bail on 5 October. We have not made direct representations to the Iranian Government, but continue to monitor the case closely.
	We take all available opportunities to make clear to the Iranian authorities our concerns about religious freedom in Iran. We continue to press them, bilaterally and through the EU, to address the intimidation and discrimination of religious minorities, including Christian, Baha'i and Jewish communities. At our suggestion the EU presidency raised these issues with the Iranians on 31 January and 11 April.
	We also take action at the UN and were pleased that all EU countries co-sponsored a UN General Assembly Resolution on Human Rights in Iran in December last year. This resolution expressed serious concern at
	"The continuing discrimination, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, recognized or otherwise, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchis, Christians, Jews and Sunni Muslims, the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Baha'I".
	We expect Iran to uphold the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion in accordance with its obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Iraq

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will obtain from the Iraqi authorities the estimated number of those murdered so far during 2006 as a result of terrorism.

Kim Howells: The Iraqi Ministry of Health has released figures on a monthly basis through 2006. The figures from January to August 2006 state that 10,034 Iraqis died violently, where the cause of death was recorded as 'military' or 'terrorist' action. The vast majority of these were recorded as being a result of 'terrorist' attacks. The Ministry of Health points out that this figure includes all Iraqis, including civilians, Iraqi security forces and insurgents, except those in the Kurdish provinces.
	There continues to be no comprehensive or reliable assessment of violent deaths in Iraq.

Islands (Constitutional Status)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the constitutional status is under the Crown of  (a) the Cook Islands,  (b) Christmas Island,  (c) the Cocos Islands,  (d) the Heard and MacDonald Islands,  (e) the Coral Sea Islands,  (f) Niue and  (g) Tokelan.

Geoff Hoon: These territories are the responsibility of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. It falls to those governments to explain the constitutional status of their territories under the Crown.

Israel

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2006,  Official Report, columns 2314-5W, on Israel, what percentage of approved export licences to Israel were revoked as a result of this monitoring in the last year for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: Details of all export licences are available in the Quarterly and Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls submitted to Parliament and are subject to detailed retrospective scrutiny by the Quadripartite Committee on Strategic Export Controls. This includes a summary of goods by destination. All reports—from 1997—can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=l0070 29395474.
	In the latest published annual report, covering 2005, no export licenses issued to Israel were revoked. Given the way data is recorded, if there were any revocations, it would not be possible to identify how many were due to information originating from overseas Posts, this usually being one aspect of several taken into account when a licence is assessed.
	All export licence applications are judged rigorously against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria including risk assessment by all four Government Departments (the FCO, the Department for Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development) involved in the export licensing process. There are few revocations.

Malaysia

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will outline the latest situation regarding British veterans who have been awarded the Malaysian confrontation medal by the Malaysian Government; whether she expects British veterans will be allowed to wear the medal at commemorations and official events; and if she will make a statement on the status of the medal.

Margaret Beckett: The current situation on the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) is set out in the written ministerial statement made by my hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian Pearson) on 31 January 2006,  Official Report, columns 10-11WS.
	Those seeking permission to wear the PJM, have made a number of points which will be considered by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals. I hope that the results will be known by the end of November.

Mexico (Visit)

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) matters were discussed and  (b) agreements were made during her recent visit to Mexico; and if she will (i) publish on her Department's website and (ii) place in the Library copies of papers circulated by the Government as part of her visit.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Mexico from 2-4 October. She gave the opening address at the second ministerial meeting of the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Clean Energy. This address is on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at: www.fco.gov.uk, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House. The key message of the meeting was that dealing with climate change is an imperative for today, not an option for tomorrow. The meeting heard compelling new evidence in three areas—the economics of climate change, technology opportunities and the investment challenge. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met separately with Paula Dobriansky, US Deputy Under-secretary of State, and discussed the US Administration's position on climate change and with Claude Mandil, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, to discuss what will be needed globally for a transition to a low carbon economy.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also undertook a bilateral programme in Mexico City, meeting with President Fox and Foreign Minister Derbez. She had wide-ranging discussions covering bilateral, regional and global issues. With Foreign Minister Derbez, she signed and launched a bilateral Sustainable Development Dialogue (SDD) which will give us a framework for a cross-government programme of concrete bilateral action. A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding that launched the SDD will be made available on the Government's sustainable development website at: www.sustainable-development.gov.uk, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Middle East

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her officials have made to the Israeli Government about the continued use of administrative detention by Israeli forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Geoff Hoon: In June and July, our embassy in Tel Aviv made representations to the Israeli Ministry for Foreign Affairs regarding the administrative detention of a disabled Palestinian prisoner.
	We constantly monitor the situation and are in contact with Human Rights and International organisations. An official from our embassy in Tel Aviv also attended the Israeli Supreme Court in July 2006 to observe an appeal against his detention by a Palestinian administrative detainee.
	We will continue to raise this issue with the Israeli Government.

Middle East

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of Israeli military roadblocks in the Palestinian West Bank in October  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2005.

Kim Howells: We have no estimate of the number of roadblocks.
	According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of 20 September 2006, the west bank closure system comprises 528 checkpoints and physical obstacles placed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on roads to control and restrict Palestinian movement, representing an increase of almost 2 per cent. on the 518 obstacles in June 2006. In August 2005, OCHA reported that there were 376 physical obstacles. This represents an 11 per cent. increase in the number of physical obstacles erected by the IDF since the beginning of 2006 and almost 40 per cent. since August 2005.

Middle East

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what parts of the Palestinian West Bank are subject to Israeli restrictions which prevent access by Palestinians who are  (a) non-resident and  (b) not working in Israeli settlements in the area; and what percentage of the West Bank these areas represent.

Kim Howells: According to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a combination of checkpoints, physical obstacles and a permit system has effectively cut the west bank into three distinct areas—north, central and southern west bank, in addition to east Jerusalem. Within these areas further enclaves have been created. These enclaves are bordered by checkpoints and roadblocks and this has led to Palestinian communities being separated.
	Many routes within the west bank are regulated by a system of permits. However, requirements to get permits to move from one area to another are increasingly difficult to meet and fewer permits are issued. Without warning, additional restrictions or closures can make permits invalid. Additional restrictions can be by age (usually 15 to 32-year-old males), by gender or by geographical area. These restrictions can be imposed at any checkpoints at any time. According to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Negotiation Affairs Department, the barrier, settlements and restrictions on Palestinian access to the Jordan valley together prevent regular Palestinian access to at least 46 per cent. of the west bank. Their estimates are that the percentages of west bank land involved are: barrier 9.5 per cent., settlements 8 per cent. and Jordan valley 28.5 per cent.. Further information can be found on the following website: http://www.nad-plo.org/inner.php?view=facts _wall_isf.

Nicaragua

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the United States Administration about the forthcoming elections in Nicaragua.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the forthcoming elections in Nicaragua with the United States Administration.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have been involved in discussions about Nicaragua in the EU and the European Commission has sent a team of EU Election Observers to Nicaragua for the presidential and congressional elections in November. Our embassy in San Jose, which also represents the UK in Nicaragua, is monitoring the campaign closely, as is the Department for International Development office based in Managua, Nicaragua. They have regular discussions with partners, including the EU and US, on the forthcoming elections.

Nicaragua

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the freedom and fairness of the forthcoming presidential elections in Nicaragua.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is encouraging free and fair presidential and congressional elections in Nicaragua in November. Our embassy in San Jose, which also represents the UK in Nicaragua, is monitoring the campaign closely, as is the Department for International Development office based in Managua, Nicaragua. The FCO has been involved in discussions on Nicaragua with our EU partners, and the European Commission is sending a team of EU Election Observers to Nicaragua for the elections. One of the key functions of the EU Election Observation Mission will be to assess the Nicaraguan election process in relation to international standards for democratic elections.

Parliamentary Questions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to answer question 86687 on the Israel-Lebanon conflict, tabled by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield on 18 July.

Kim Howells: I replied to my hon. Friend on 16 October 2006,  Official Report, column 964W. I apologise for the lateness of my reply.

Sri Lanka

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment her Department has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 17 October 2006 (UIN 93648).

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the (i) political and (ii) human rights situation in Sri Lanka and  (b) the Sri Lankan government's treatment of the Tamil people.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) today (UIN 93648).

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources her Department made available to encourage the Darfur-Darfur dialogue  (a) in its own right and  (b) in partnership with the Department for International Development.

Ian McCartney: Under the 5 May 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), the parties agreed to establish a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation (DDDC), led by the African Union (AU), in order to secure wide support for the DPA and to start the process of reconciliation.
	Through the joint Department for International Development/Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sudan Unit and our embassy in Khartoum, we are working closely with the AU in taking this process forward, including by identifying candidates for the Chairperson of the DDDC. We continue to make clear our willingness to support the DDDC, including with technical expertise, to help accelerate the prospect of progress.
	However, the DDDC has been hampered by the deteriorating security situation on the ground and an unwillingness by the parties to the DPA to adhere to their commitments. We are pressing all sides to stop the fighting and to implement the DPA rapidly. We are also funding a media campaign aimed at broadening support for the DPA, and engaging the non-signatory rebel leaders to persuade them to commit to the Agreement.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she proposes to take in response to events in South Darfur; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: There have been credible reports of a number of attacks in South Darfur, carried out by the Janjaweed/armed militias, since 27 August. We have condemned this fighting. It must stop immediately. We have a team of international diplomats, including a British diplomat, engaging the rebel groups in Darfur to make clear they must honour existing ceasefires and abide by UN Security Council Resolutions and the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). We are working to bring such groups into the DPA.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the situation in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights about the situation in Darfur. But, as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, the UK is briefed on a regular basis about the situation in Darfur, most recently by the Secretary General on 6 October. We have called on the Government of Sudan to address the human rights situation in Darfur and are making it clear that we will hold them accountable for abuses on the ground.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the role of the National Redemption Front in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The National Redemption Front (NRF) is an umbrella organisation loosely made up of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sharif Harir, Ahmed Diraige (the former governor of Darfur) and elements of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM). The dominant group in the NRF is the JEM. The NRF is thought to be gaining popularity among individual SLM factions including the predominantly Fur-based Abdel Wahid and its rival, Abdul Shaffi. The NRF is alleged to be responsible for the majority of recent rebel attacks. We are pressing the NRF to immediately cease fighting and to sign up to the Darfur Peace Agreement. We have made clear to the NRF that we are ready to support a process to help rebel groups to do so.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the UN on a referendum on the future of the Western Sahara.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made any recent representations to the UN on the need for a referendum on the future of Western Sahara.
	The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UK is in regular contact with representatives of the parties to the dispute and the UN. The UK will continue to encourage all parties to engage with the UN process. There are, however, no plans for a UN referendum to be held in the near future.

Western Sahara

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she plans to take to ensure that the UN publishes the latest report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mission to Western Sahara and the Refugee Camps in Tindouf; and what steps she plans to take to ensure the continuation of the role of the Special Representative for the Western Sahara.

Kim Howells: The Government are not aware of any plans on the part of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to publish a report on a visit by a delegation from her Office to Western Sahara in May.
	The UN Secretary-General is due to publish a report on the situation in Western Sahara on 18 October. We expect this report to cover developments over the past six months. The Government look forward to this report.
	The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Western Sahara is head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The UK will take an active role in the Security Council's discussions, in line with the Government's continued support to efforts to resolve the issue of the status of Western Sahara within the UN framework.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the expropriations of farm land in Zimbabwe.

Ian McCartney: Mugabe's chaotic approach to land expropriation has severely damaged Zimbabwe's agricultural base. Despite abundant rains, the World Food Programme estimates that 1.4 million Zimbabweans will again require food assistance. The Government of Zimbabwe has ignored international calls to embark on a transparent, democratic land reform process. Instead, Mugabe's regime continues to seize land, recently issuing eviction notices to over 60 of the remaining commercial farmers in Zimbabwe.
	Together with our EU, Commonwealth and other international partners, we urge the Government of Zimbabwe to return to policies based on sound economic practice, democracy, and respect for the rule of law and human rights.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Action Cancer

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are for Action Cancer's Big Bus to visit East Belfast and Strangford; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: My Department has no direct involvement in the visits carried out by Action Cancer. I welcome the Big Bus initiative and the valuable contribution the charity makes in cancer prevention in Northern Ireland.

Cancer Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many men have taken up screening for  (a) testicular and  (b) prostate cancer in the last three years in each health board in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There is no testicular or prostate cancer screening programme in place in Northern Ireland.
	In relation to prostate cancer the National Screening Committee recommends that routine screening using prostate specific antigen testing should not be introduced. The Committee is keeping the issue under review and will revise their recommendation if new evidence becomes available.
	The National Screening Committee does not recommend a screening programme for testicular cancer. However, men should be aware of the need for self-examination and the importance of referring to their GP with any concerns.

Nursing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses are in training in Northern Ireland; what the equivalent figures were for each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: There are currently 2,187 undergraduate nursing students in training in Northern Ireland. The equivalent figures for each of the last three academic years are presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Undergraduate student nurses in training for the last three academic years 
			  Academic year  Number 
			 2005-06 2,337 
			 2004-05 2,548 
			 2003-04 2,235 
			  Source: Queens University Belfast, University of Ulster and the Open University.

Nursing

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many student nurses in Northern Ireland have dropped out of their courses in each of the last three years; what percentage of the student cohort for the relevant year each figure represents; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Student nurses drop out of their course for a variety of reasons. There are however, procedures in place to allow students to temporarily withdraw from their course and recommence at a future date. Drop-out rates or permanent withdrawals, refer to students who drop out of the course and do not intend to return. The number of student nurses who have permanently withdrawn from their course in each of the last three years and the corresponding percentage is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Permanent withdrawals during last three academic years, 1 September to 31 August 
			  Academic year  Year 1  Year 2  Year 3  Total  Percentage of total cohort 
			 2003-04 60 40 15 115 5.1 
			 2004-05 70 77 19 166 6.5 
			 2005-06 62 49 49 160 7 
			  Source: CSA bursary data information.

Prehen Woods

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Derry Area Plan 2011, Section Zoning H33 Hillview, contains restrictions on the distance between any new housing development and the existing Prehen Woods.

David Cairns: The adopted Derry Area Plan 2011 contains no explicit restriction on the distance between any new housing development and the existing Prehen Woods.
	However, the supporting text to the zoning specifies that a strip of land no less than 15 metres and preferably up to 20 metres from the existing fence line along the southern and south western boundaries of the site should be protected as a buffer zone between Prehen Woods and any housing permitted on this land.

Prehen Woods

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the distance is between the boundary of planning application A/2005/1166/F and Prehen Woods.

David Cairns: Approximately 50 per cent. of the proposed site to which planning application A/2005/1166/F relates, encroaches into Prehen Woods although this does not include the part of the application site on which houses are proposed.

Psychiatric Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unfilled vacancies there are for special psychiatric nurses in each health board area in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Vacancies for registered mental health nurses by Board area, as at 30 September 2006, are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Registered mental health nurse vacancies 
			   Number 
			 Northern Board 19 
			 Eastern Board 21 
			 Southern Board 15 
			 Western Board 3 
			 Total 58

Psychiatric Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) children and  (b) young adults from Northern Ireland were given a place at St. George's for treatment for (i) anorexia and (ii) other mental health conditions in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: Information on the number of  (a) children,  (b) young adults aged 16-18 years and  (c) adults aged 19-21 who travelled from Northern Ireland to St. George's Hospital in London for treatment for (i) eating disorders from 2001-02 to 2005-06 is outlined in the following table. There were no patients, under 22 years of age, from Northern Ireland that went to St. George's Hospital in London for (ii) other mental health related conditions between 2001-02 and 2005-06.
	
		
			  Number of patients travelling from Northern Ireland to St. George's Hospital in London for eating disorders 
			  Financial year  (a) Children (under 16s)  (b) Young adults (16 to 18-year-olds)  (c) Adults aged 19-21 
			 2001-02 0 0 0 
			 2002-03 0 0 0 
			 2003-04 0 0 4 
			 2004-05 1 3 6 
			 2005-06 1 2 3 
			 Total 2 5 13 
			  Note: Children have been classified as persons aged 15 and under and young adults have been classified as persons aged 16-18. Figures for adults aged between 19 and 21 have also been included.  Source:  Health and Social Service Boards

Psychiatric Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unfilled posts there are for  (a) psychiatrists and  (b) psychologists in each health board in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Vacancies for (a) psychiatrists and (b) psychologists by Board area as at 30 September 2006 
			   Psychiatrist vacancies  Psychologist vacancies 
			  Board  Headcount  WTE( 1)  Headcount  WTE( 1) 
			 Northern 1 1.00 3 3.00 
			 Eastern 3 2.36 14 13.20 
			 Southern 3 3.00 3 3.00 
			 Western 0 0.00 2 2.00 
			 Total 7 6.36 22 21.20 
			 (1 )Whole-time equivalent.   Source: NI Health and Social Services Trusts.

Smoking

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the draft regulation proposing the exemption from the smoke-free provisions of the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 for a designated room in a research or testing facility would enable the continuation of all research and testing undertaken by Gallaher Ltd. at their Lisnafillan premises.

Paul Goggins: The draft regulations setting out a proposed exemption for research and testing facilities were issued for public consultation on 22 September. During a recent exchange of correspondence with my officials, Gallaher was invited to specify in its response to the consultation exercise, what, if any, functions currently performed in the research and development facility at Lisnafillan would be in breach of the Northern Ireland regulations as currently drafted.
	My officials will give very careful consideration to Gallaher's response.

Smoking

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the  (a) direct and  (b) indirect effect on employment in Northern Ireland of the Lisnafillan premises of Gallaher Limited.

Maria Eagle: No estimate has been made.

Teachers

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to help recently qualified teachers in Northern Ireland find jobs.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 7 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1331W.